104 
 V5 V53 
 opv 1 
 
CENTENNIAL OF VERNON (ROCK VILLE) 
 
 JUNE 28 TO JULY 4 INCLUSIVE, 1908. 
 
 SOUVENIR PROGRAM CONTAINING HISTORY OF THE 
 TOWN, WITH EVENTS FOR THE WEEK, HALF 
 TONES OF MEMBERS OF COMMITTEES AND PROM- 
 INENT CITIZENS AND INTERESTING INFORMATION. 
 
 O L P HO M B W K B K 
 
 VERNON. A CENTURY OED, REJOICES AT THE PROG- 
 RESS ACHIEVED. ROCKVILLE, CO NN.. "LOOM" CITY. 
 
 PUBLISHED UNDER AUSPICES OF THE COMMITTEE 
 ON ADVERTISING, PRINTING AND PUBLICITY. 
 
 T. K. RADY & CO., I'RINTING. 
 ROCKVILLE, COXN. 
 
COMMITTEE ON PRINTING, 
 
 Francis A. Randall, Harry C. Smith, 
 
 Geo. p. Wendheiser, Charles Backofen. 
 
 history compiled by 
 Harry C. Smith. 
 
AUTHORIZED BY SPECIAL TOWN MEETING. 
 
 The Following Amended Resolution Authorizing the 
 
 Centennial Celebration by Vote of the Town Was 
 
 Passed at a Special Meeting Held Friday 
 
 Evening, Nov. 29, 1907. 
 
 Resolved — That the legal voters of the Town of Vernon 
 ill Town Meeting assembled do hereby declare themselves 
 in favor of an Old Home Week celebration, to be holden 
 during some week in the year 1908, which will appropriately 
 mark the One-Hundredth Anniversary of the Town of 
 Vernon, and that a committee, consisting of the Board of 
 Selectmen of the Town, the Town Treasurer, the Mayor of 
 the City of Rockville, the President of the Rockville Bus- 
 iness Men's association, and Hon. Francis T. Maxwell, rep- 
 resenting the manufacturing interests of the town, be, and 
 hereby are appointed a committee, with power to select 
 fifteen other residents of the town, representing its business 
 and professional interests, who together shall form a com- 
 mittee of twenty-two, and who shall have power to arrange 
 for, direct and carry out all plans for such celebration on 
 such dates as they shall select and which shall be considered 
 most appropriate from every standpoint. Said committee 
 shall also have power to appoint any and all additional com- 
 mittees and sul>-committees in their opinion necessary for 
 the celebration. 
 
 Resolved — That a sum not to exceed $2,000 be appro- 
 priated from the Town Treasury to be used for the expenses 
 incurred l)y the Old Home Week celebration during the 
 centennial )'ear of the town, and that the Town Treasurer 
 lie, and is lierel)y authorized to honor any and all orders 
 from the Treasurer of the General Committee for such 
 amounts that the committee shall need from time to time 
 not to exceed in the aggregate the amount appropriated by ' 
 the town. 
 
 Resolved — That the City of Rockville be asked to do 
 what it can legally do to co-operate with the town, througii 
 the .Ma\i)r and Common Council, in making the celebration 
 a success. 
 
GENERAL COMMITTEE. 
 
 CHARLES PHELPS President 
 
 THOAL\S F. NOONE Vice-President 
 
 J. C. HAMMOND, Jr Secretary 
 
 FRED. WOODH.\LL Assistant Secretary 
 
 PARLEY B. LEON.VRD Treasurer 
 
 FRANCIS B. SKINNER I'l^WCIS J. REGAN 
 
 PAUL BRACHE A. B. PARKER 
 
 JOHN H. ZIMMERMANN GEORGE P. \A-ENDHEISER 
 
 FRANCIS T. MAXWELL JOHN W. HEFFERON 
 
 FRANCIS A. RANDALL C. DENISON TALCOTT 
 
 GEORGE FORSTER CH.^RLES BACKOFEN 
 
 DAVID A. SYKES MORITZ KEMNITZER 
 
 CHARLES N. McLEAN H. H. WILLES 
 
 H. C. SAiITH 
 
1 AfSIMILE OF ORIGIXAL DEED EXE( ITED I\ 172C KY Wlllfn SAMUEL GRAM 
 KE(AME THE I'lMU'lUETOK OK :,()0 A( HKS OF PKIMITIVE LA>DS, THEN 
 ROKJH AAD RIGGED, XMV UOtKVlLLE. 
 
oi'MCiAi. i'Rnr;R.\.M— ( )i.i) hoaik wI':rk 
 
 MCW I'.XI'.I.ANI 
 
 THE NEW ENGLAND CO. was organized in 1836 by George Kellogg and 
 Allen Hammond, who built its first mill in 1837, which was 120 by 34 feet, three 
 stories and attic. This mill was destroyed by fire in 1841. During the fall and 
 winter following the men employed in the mill cut the timber standing on a lot 
 south of Fox Hill, and it was sawed at a sawmill standing where the American 
 mill machine shop is now located, and the mill was rebuilt. 
 
 In 1847 there was built an addition of 72 feet, making the present building 192 
 by 34. The stone building, 120 by 40 feet, two stories and attic, used for storage 
 and sorting wool, storage of yarn and drying of wool and yarn, was built in 1860, 
 as was also the office and wheel house. 
 
 The brick mill, five stories, 150 by 40 feet, was built in 1885, and machinery 
 therein started in 1886. In 1847 Mr. Kellogg, who had previously been Agent at 
 the old Rock Co., came to the New England Co., and Mr. Hammond went to the 
 Rock Co., and built the new Rock mill, so called: subsequently Allen Hammond re- 
 turned to the New England Co. and George Kellogg to the Rock. 
 
 The New England Co. was among the first, if not the first, in this country to 
 make fancy cassimeres, commencing to make them in its new mill in 1842. Allen 
 Hammond went to Worcester and learned designing of the elder Mr. Crompton, 
 the inventor of the Crompton loom at its first introduction in weaving. 
 
 The 'Company has always stood high in its products, having taken first 
 medals at the "World's Fairs" of Vienna, Philadelphia, Chicago, Paris and at Cin- 
 cinnati. The American Institute, 2 first medals Institute of State of Pennsylvania, 
 1 first medal Maryland Institute, Baltimore; first medal Hartford County, and 
 Connecticut State Fair 3 first medals. 
 
 The equipment of the Company consists of nine sets of cards, 114 broad looms 
 and the other necessary machinery for making fine fancy goods. 
 
 The mill is now largely making fine worsteds, using yarns made from the 
 finest Australian wools, which they buy, (the making of yarns being an industry 
 by itself), and make a great variety of fine worsteds, unsurpassed by any made 
 either in this country or abroad. 
 
 Mr. Allen Hammond died in 1864 and was succeeded by his son, A. Park 
 Hammond, the present Treasurer of the Company. 
 
 The present officers of the Company are : 
 
 ROBERT MAXWELL, President. 
 
 A. PARK HAMMOND, Treasurer. 
 
 GEORGE B. HAMMOND, Clerk and Bookkeeper. 
 
 FRANK EASTWOOD, Superintendent. 
 
SK ifUlLDINC;. CITIZENS' BLOCK. M. E. CHURCH. MEMORIAL BUILDINi 
 
 UBXRY BUILniXG. THK ROCKVILLE 
 
 ESTERNI SUMUS," 
 "We are but of yester- 
 day," wrote a Christian 
 of the early days, ad- 
 dressing the emperor in 
 defense of his faith and 
 practice. "Yet," lie add- 
 ed, "we have filled every place of yours, 
 cities and castles, islands and camps, the 
 senate and the forum." 
 
 The town of Vernon, which includes 
 the city of Rockville, seems but of yester- 
 day, as one recalls the numerous towns 
 which celebrated their bi-centennials, or 
 even cjuarter millenials, many years ago, 
 constituent parts of the ancient republics 
 which have been for more than two cen- 
 turies united in one colony and state of 
 Connecticut. The fame of Vernon, or 
 Rockville's life and prosperity has filled 
 many places near and far, and her manu- 
 facturing plants — giant woolen industries 
 — are splendid monuments of the sturdy 
 qualities of the fathers, which have de- 
 scended from one generation to another, 
 a perpetual reminder of her busy activi- 
 ties and the usefulness of the work she is 
 doing in the field of industrial progress. 
 Indeed, the history of the town tells of 
 high purpose, faithful endeavor and hon- 
 orable achievement in every generation 
 from the settlement of the town to the 
 present time. No chapter, however, con- 
 tributes more to the town's renown than 
 woolen manufacturing. It is this industry 
 which has built the town up and sent its 
 name and fame around the world. 
 
 \\'hen an infant in swaddling clothes 
 the town occupied a unicjue and conspic- 
 uous position in the woolen industry of 
 the countr}', which was then in its primi- 
 tive stage. 
 
 If Col. Francis McLean. one of the good 
 fathers of the town, a pioneer in the 
 woolen industry, the man who built the 
 first woolen factory of any size in the 
 town, a factory which was looked upon as 
 a nine days' wonder, could look in upon 
 the town today and see the large and 
 magnificent woolen manufacturing plants, 
 it is quite likely he would rub his eyes and 
 wonder if he weren't dreaming. Surely a 
 remarkable transformation has taken 
 place. 
 
 \^ hen Aernon was incorporated as a 
 town it was by no means a new settle- 
 ment. It had an interesting and not un- 
 important history. While a century has 
 passed since Vernon acquired political 
 recognition as a town of Connecticut, the 
 history of the town of A'ernon properly 
 begins with the settlement of the town of 
 Bolton. In 1800 there were 1452 inhai)- 
 itants in Bolton. In 1810 Vernon had a 
 population of 827, while Bolton's popula- 
 tion was but 700. It would be unjust in 
 giving an historical sketch of Vernon and 
 Rockville to omit reference to Bolton, for 
 the larger part of Vernon and Rockville 
 \vas for many years included in Bolton 
 township. The state of Connecticut bears 
 upon her seal the three vines which stand 
 for the first three towns. Hartford. Wind- 
 sor and W'eUiersfield. Bolton ami Xeruon 
 
OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD IIOMF AA'FFK. 
 
 IT is said that Benjamin Franklin attributed his success as a public man, not to his talents or 
 his power of speech for those were moderate — but to his known integrity of character. 
 There is character in Pianos as well as men. The pronounced success of the KRAKAUKR is due 
 to its inherent worth. The wonderful tone and touch of the KRAKAUER— have you tested it? 
 
 KRAKAUER PIANOS 
 
 Meet the wants of ex- 
 acting musical critics. 
 Then again, character is 
 power, Krakauer Pianos 
 are strong favorites with 
 the best Piano dealers 
 and music lovers every- 
 where. Character cre- 
 ates confidence. That 
 confidence in the Kra- 
 kauer is best shown by 
 itshigh standingamong 
 those who know most 
 about pianos. Us capti- 
 vating tone, its delight- 
 ful touch, its superior 
 
 constructiou and finish — in short its artistic excellence ihruugh- 
 out — prove it worthy of yourconfidence. It is not the highest in 
 price. 
 
 Krakiuier Bros. Factories: 
 
 C\'press Avenue, 136th to 137th Streets 
 Nicw York 
 
 General Representative for Rockville and vicinity". 
 
 George Peter Wendheiser, 
 
 Cor. Main and Market Sts. 
 
 HIGH GRADE MONUMENTAL WORKS 
 
 Monuments and Headstones 
 of P'oreign and Domestic 
 Granite. . . Also Marble 
 
 
 Established in 1(S69 
 
 The Adams 
 Monumental \\()rks 
 
 (SI Hrooklyn Street 
 Rotkxille, - Connecticut 
 
VERXON - ROCK\"ILLE CEXTENNIAL CEEEI'.RATIOX. 
 
 were settled by persi:)ns from Windsor, 
 Hartford and Wethersfield, and the name 
 of Grant was prominent in the early days 
 of the town. Samuel Grant being the first 
 white settler in the villai^e of Rockville, 
 the transaction of the original deed cover- 
 ing the rough and rugged lands of Rock- 
 ville taking place in ilartford, April 29, 
 1726, being made to him by the agents of 
 the proprietors of the Bolton lands. The 
 settlement of Vernon dates back to 1716, 
 80 years after the settlement of Hartford 
 by Hooker and Haynes, of revered mem- 
 ory, and 77 years after the adoption of the 
 first American constitution at Hartford by 
 the planters of Connecticut colony. Bolton 
 proper was originally a part of the town 
 of Hartford. It went by the name of 
 "Hartford Mountains" and was some- 
 times called "Hannover." 
 
 Bolton township was a flourishing cen- 
 ter of population and enjoyed business 
 prosperity long before Rockville had a 
 beginning. Its early inhabitants took 
 pride in keeping up appearances. They 
 desired to lay out through the center of 
 the settlement a broad street or common. 
 The owners were to throw the land into 
 commons, and of course without charges. 
 A certain farm, owned by Samuel Grant 
 of Windsor, interfered with the carrying 
 out of the project. Being a non-resident, 
 he did not take sufTicient interest in the 
 improvement to induce him to give the 
 land. Samuel Grant's lack of public spirit 
 did not disturb the inhabitants, however. 
 They made him a proposition to exchange 
 his farm in Bolton for certain lands be- 
 longing to the proprietors of Bolton lands, 
 lying in the north end of the township. 
 lUounting his horse, he rode over from 
 Windsor to look at the lands. Arriving 
 at the western boundary he plunged into 
 the forest and clambered up the stream, 
 over rocks and through thickets, until he 
 reached the outlet of the pond. Idaving 
 prospected sufficiently, he worked his 
 way back to his starting point. He now 
 rode down to Bolton and oltercd to swap 
 his farm there of about 100 acres for 500 
 acres of the lands in North Bolton. No 
 time was lost in accepting his offer and 
 the writings were hastened with all due 
 diligence for fear he might regret his bar- 
 gain. 
 
 I'he men who made the proposition to 
 Samuel (irant weren't ([uite satisfied that 
 it would come to a successful issue. They 
 could not see what he could do with the 
 rough lands on Snipsic outlet, then con- 
 sidered practically worthless and of no 
 value. The transaction, however, was 
 fully consummated, as the facsimile of 
 the original deed in possession of the 
 Grant family, which appears at the be- 
 ginning of this article, attests. 
 
 It is questionable if Samuel Grant, 
 after becoming the proprietor of five hun- 
 dred acres of primitive lands, then rough 
 and rugged, now Rockville, foresaw what 
 the tumbling waters were to be made to 
 do, and what wealth they were to develop. 
 Undoubtedly he saw a future possibility 
 of grist and saw mills on his newly-gotten 
 streams, and shrewdly saw money in the 
 possibility. Being a pushing, aggressive 
 sort of man, once in the possession of his 
 lands, Samuel Grant packed his saddle 
 bags of a Monday morning, leaving his 
 kinsfolk in Windsor, rode bravely along 
 the forest paths, and hitched his horse at 
 the corner of Union and West streets. He 
 buckled right in and worked with a will, 
 erecting in the course of weeks a solid and 
 comfortable log house. The house was 
 afterwards replaced by a frame house, and 
 that by the one now standing on the old 
 site chosen by the pioneer. 
 
 Reference to the Grant family, who 
 took a conspicuous part in the early life 
 of Rockville, would be incomplete with- 
 out at least brief mention of Ozias, only 
 son of Samuel Grant. He was a man w ho 
 attracted marked attention. A miller by 
 trade, he was large and stalwart, and 
 usually wore the white linen cap of those 
 days, and is remembered by old people as 
 a man of simple and cjuaint manners, 
 whose foot made a great track in the sand. 
 He was pressed into the English army 
 and took part in the Quebec campaign 
 and the march on Lexington alarm. He 
 was a maker of queer speeches, some of 
 which are remembered and one of which 
 is as follows. When discussing the quali- 
 ties of the various kinds of wood, said he: 
 "A good yaller swamp oak for a mud sill 
 wdlUast for ages, but a real fat yaller pine 
 will last a good deal longer than a swamp 
 oak." A native of East Windsor, where 
 
10 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 ROPKINS & COMPANY, 
 
 Hartford, 
 
 Connecticut 
 
VERNON -ROCK\'ILLE CENTENNIAL CELEl'.RATION. 
 
 11 
 
 he was born in 17.i3, he ched in X'crnon in 
 1823 at the aije (if 'JO _\-ears. Ik- is hnried 
 in the ancient l)uryiny t^rcumd at \'er- 
 non. 
 
 Of ( )zias ,Grant"s six sons all hut one, 
 who was killed, settled down on the 
 original acres and built houses, three of 
 which are yet standing, viz., the one at 
 the corner of West and Union streets, the 
 main part of the homestead of Ozias 
 Grant, built in 1809 on the site of the 
 original log cabin, built by Samuel (irant, 
 the first house in Rockville. It is now 
 owned and occupied by Nathaniel R. 
 Grant, in whose possession is the original 
 deed. A cut of the house appears else- 
 where. For one hundred years the road 
 on the left in the illustration was called 
 Grant street. The homestead of Elnathan 
 Grant was probably built about 1782 by 
 Ozias Grant. It is still standing. The 
 homestead of Augustus Grant is over a 
 century old. It has passed out of the 
 family, but is still standing. 
 
 One of the most interesting periods 
 in the history of the town was reached 
 when, in 1762, on top of the hill, still 
 known to some as the "Old Meetinghouse 
 Hill," the first church in the town was 
 erected. As early as 1749 a petition 
 signed by eighteen of the inhabitants of 
 the north part of the town of Bolton was 
 sent to the General Assembly asking that 
 the privilege of a winter parish be grant- 
 ed. The people felt that they had just 
 cause for relief, as they lived from five 
 to seven miles from the meetinghouse, 
 and the roads were rough and traveling 
 anything but comfortable. This privi- 
 lege was granted and winter preaching 
 was enjoyed, meetings being held in the 
 schoolhouses and private residences un- 
 til room became cramped and the Eccles- 
 iastical society of North Bolton was 
 formed, in 1760. The territory of this 
 society was the same as the present town 
 of Vernon. When the town was set off it 
 was divided on the lines as established 
 by the two ecclesiastical societies. 
 
 The meetinghouse stood about half a 
 mile east of the present meetinghouse at 
 Vernon Center, halfway between the 
 Bamforth place, formerly the Hubbard 
 Kellogg place, and the Charles ( ). Dart 
 residence, a well-known inn during the 
 
 early da}'s of the town. Surrounded by 
 the original forest, vviiich, when summer's 
 sun was high, cast a grateful shade about, 
 it had a stately dignity, in spite of its 
 ]5lainness. The building was a four- sided 
 one in the prevailing style of architecture 
 for country churches, without any steeple. 
 Slow [irogress was made in fitting the 
 building owing to the slender means of 
 the people. It remained without pews 
 until 1770 and was not plastered until 
 1774. The frame of the church was used 
 in the east wing of the old Frank factory 
 at Rockville. A slab — the thoughtfnlness 
 of Mrs. George Maxwell, marks the spot 
 where the church stood. 
 
 \^ernon was fortunate in the selection 
 of her first pastor. Rev. Ebenezer Kel- 
 logg, who was called Nov. 24, 1762, and 
 whose pastorate continued for a period 
 of fifty-five years. Affectionately known 
 as '"Priest" Kellogg, a scion of that sturdy 
 stock which has given many distinguished 
 men to the country, strong mentally, he 
 held his people with a vigorous hand. A 
 Puritan himself, his people became like 
 him, Puritans also. 
 
 The peculiar theology and religious 
 character of New England Congregation- 
 alism was indellibly stamped upon the 
 men who went from Vernon to Rockville 
 in 1821 to organize its business and plant 
 its institutions. With them the Sabbath 
 commenced with the setting of the sun 
 of Saturday, from their recognition of the 
 recorded fact that "evening and morning- 
 made creation's first day." Even the "di- 
 vinity that doth hedge a king" commands 
 hardly more attention than that wdiich 
 was paid to the minister in the early 
 days of the town. The very children were 
 taught to make obeisance to him as they 
 passed along the street. An atmosphere 
 of dignity and solemnity seemed 
 to emanate from his black clothes, high 
 stock and white cravat. Sabbath day 
 was universally honored. Civil guardians 
 restrained out-of-door disturbances of its 
 quiet, and "tithingmen," with their long, 
 slender wands gently touching suspected 
 boys or girls, prevented disturbances in 
 the sanctuary. One of the tithingmen 
 got to slee]) during the service in the old 
 church at Vernon Center one Sunday. He 
 occupied a rear pew under the gallery. 
 
12 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOMF WFEK. 
 
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 L. E. HALE & COMPANY 
 
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VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 13 
 
 His head thrown back and mouth wide 
 open, he afforded an opportunity for a 
 mischievous boy in the gallery to let 
 loose some of his pent-up mischief, and it 
 goes without saying that the boy was not 
 slow to make the most of the opportunity. 
 He dropped a well masticated quid of to- 
 bacco which landed well in the back of 
 the tithingman's throat. It was a some- 
 what rude and rather unpleasant awaken- 
 ing; but boys will be boys, and while the 
 tithingman felt somewhat cheap, it's quite 
 likely he wasn't caught napping again. 
 
 Tradition says that a tin peddler by 
 the name of Dean, who had been ped- 
 dling his wares up this way, desired to 
 get to his home in Stafford for over Sun- 
 day. Knowing how strict the people 
 were and with what horror they viewed 
 any desecration of the Sabbath, he in- 
 geniously made a dummy to represent a 
 man from bags which he had in his 
 wagon. When he reached the place where 
 Nathan Lanz now lives he was halted liy 
 one of the good fathers of the town, who 
 came rushing out of the house. With a 
 solemnity that would do justice to a dea- 
 con of those days, the tin peddler said, 
 "Keep away, keep away, I've got a small- 
 pox case here." It is needless to say that 
 the tin peddler was allowed to go on his 
 waj' unmolested. The good father of the 
 town who sought to hold him up went 
 back to the house quicker than he came 
 out. 
 
 About half a mile east of the spot 
 where Vernon's first meetinghouse stood, 
 on the road from Rockville to Bolton, is 
 an ancient burying ground — an acre con- 
 secrated for the burial of the dead. It 
 was laid out many years before the first 
 church was erected. Probably the site 
 of the church was selected partly because 
 of its proximity to the cemetery, but prin- 
 cipally because of its location on a high 
 hill. It was customary in the early days of 
 New England to select the most elevated 
 site that could be found. There are many 
 old gravestones there and several graves 
 without any stones. Tradition says that 
 the first body buried there was that of 
 a child who was killed by a fall from a 
 load of goods near the very spot. The 
 goods were being moved by ox team 
 from Bolton. The child was l)uried in 
 
 the northeast corner of the cemetery. 
 There is no place of burial where with 
 more peculiar fitness one may quote the 
 pathetic lines : 
 
 "Each in his narrow cell forever laid. 
 The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." 
 Once the center of the parish, time has 
 played strange pranks. It is today "far 
 from the madding crowd's ignoble 
 strife," removed from the haunts of men. 
 Few go there, except the curious and 
 those drawn by a desire to muse and be 
 alone. The writer spent one day there 
 a few years ago reading the numerous 
 quaint epitaphs. As we wander through 
 the old graveyard and pause to read the 
 uncouth rhyme, under the rudely carved 
 death's head on the frail memorial of one 
 of the early ])ionecrs, we are bidden : 
 
 "Behold and see as you pass by. 
 
 As you are now so once was I ; 
 
 As I am now so must you be. 
 
 Prepare for death and follow me." 
 .Many of the fathers of the town, men 
 who helped make history in the early 
 days and who lived godly and useful lives, 
 are buried in the ancient burying ground, 
 among them being tlie honored and saint- 
 ly Ebenezer Kellogg, \^ernon's first pas- 
 tor, who died Sept. 3, 1817. Less than 
 four months before his death he recorded 
 with his own hand the last admission to 
 the church during his lifetime, Eliza, wife 
 of George Kellogg. Following is the in- 
 scription on the stone erected in honor of 
 Rev. Ebenezer Kellogg : 
 
 Rev. Ebenezer Kellogg died 
 Sept. 3rd, 1817, in the S 1st year 
 Of his age, and .^.'^th year 
 Of his ministry in this place. 
 
 "In yonder sacred meetinghouse he spt-nt 
 
 his breath. 
 Now silent ; senseless, here he sleeps in 
 
 death. 
 These lips again shall wake and then de- 
 clare, 
 A long amen to li-uths they published 
 there." 
 With our fathers, religion and educa- 
 tion went hand in hand. As .soon as set- 
 tlements were made, first the meeting- 
 house was erected and almost sinudtan- 
 eously action was taken toward the erec- 
 tion of schoolhouses. A school societv 
 
14 
 
 OFFICIAT. PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
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 BRILLIANT ALE 
 
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 FISCHER'S BEER 
 
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VER\U)X-R()tK\|l.Ll.: CEXTEXXIAI. Cl-.I.I'.I'.RA'IIOX. 
 
 l;i 
 
 was formed in the town of North Bolton 
 (\"ernon), Oct. 31. 1796. At thi.s meeting- 
 a committee was appointed "to [jrocure 
 Masters and Misses in their respective 
 districts." The following are the names 
 of that committee : Reuben Skinner. Tal- 
 cott Flint, John Alcott, Leonard Rogers, 
 Benjamin Talcott, jr., and Abijah Johns. 
 At this meeting the town fathers decreed 
 that all public money loaned should be 
 secured with bondsmen accepted by the 
 society committee ; the committee by 
 "setting up a notification in \\'riting on 
 the Door of each Schoolhonse according 
 to law" ; to raise one penny and a half on 
 the last August list to support schooling 
 for the ensuing year. John Walker, Jr.. 
 and Eliakim Hitchcock were appointed 
 collectors for the ensuing year. 
 
 The first meetings were held in the old 
 meetinghouse of North Bolton. A com- 
 mittee was appointed in 1808 to visit and 
 inspect the various schools of the town. 
 The first committee so appointed con- 
 sisted of Scottoway Hinckley, Oliver 
 King, Benjamin Talcott, Jr., and Thomas 
 H. Kellogg. 
 
 In the early days of the town of Ver- 
 non it was not considered out of place for 
 good people to take a little "sling" or 
 "fllip." Mr. Cogswell, in his excellent 
 history of Rockville, gives us a clear in- 
 sight into the customs that prevailed from 
 1801 to 1821. He says: "It is my opin- 
 ion that no man from 1801 to 1821 be- 
 lieved it an evil to drink on all occasions. 
 Alcohol was the balm for every wound. 
 Everybody drank some kind of liquor 
 for their particular kind of infirmities. I 
 will include the good old ministers, one 
 in particular, who said it was very pleas- 
 ant practice at a wedding to drink 'flip' 
 and tell stories." Referring to the build- 
 ing of the second church in Vernon in 
 1826, Mr. Cogswell, remarking upon this 
 infirmity of that age, says : "The old and 
 young were there — every one. The rais- 
 ing went on, one, two and three days, 
 from noon till night ; finally, with the aid 
 of a barrel of rum, the raising was com- 
 pleted." The prices for "flip" and "sling" 
 may be somewhat a matter of interest to- 
 day. According to a diary kept by a 
 well-known resident of A'ernon in 1817, 
 nine years after the incorporation of the 
 
 town, and during the ])erio(l in which His- 
 tcjrian Cogswell saj^s "no man believed it 
 evil to drink on all occasions," Russell 
 Horton paid 12 cents for one gill of 
 brandy: John W'inslow paid 31 cents for 
 one-half gill rye and cheese ; Jonas Sparks 
 "to boarding schoolmaster for you two 
 weeks," $4.00: Daniel Root, to one-half 
 gill phlip, 6 cents ; Timothy Pearl, to one- 
 half bowl sling, 12 cents; Hosea Bronson, 
 "for one pound of sugar, 18 cents" ; Ches- 
 ter King is charged "one half bowl sling, 
 you and Bingham ; three glasses sling you 
 and Culver" ; Peter Dobson buys one pint 
 French brandy, and Phineas Talcott one 
 pint of rum. One man is credited $3 for 
 breaking flax ; another with weaving 21^ 
 yards of cloth. It will be borne in mind 
 that weaving was done in the homes of 
 the people. One man is credited 50 cents 
 for a horse to Hartford. One man is 
 charged "to keeping horse one night, to 
 hay and eight quarts oats, breakfast and 
 one glass brandy, 75 cents." 
 
 Francis McLean, one of the good fath- 
 ers of the town, to whom the town is 
 largely indebted for its start in manu- 
 facturing, was a remarkable man. He 
 was one of those rare geniuses, who leave 
 their impress upon the entire life of the 
 community. A superior mathematician, 
 arithmetic and sur\eying were his favor- 
 ite studies. Building dams and houses, 
 planning and laying out work that others 
 thought difl^icult was his delight. Full of 
 energy, life and ambition, he probably ac- 
 complished more business in his day than 
 any other man in the country and re- 
 mained in the harness until the age of 77 . 
 He did not shirk military duty and was 
 but 18 when he started in. As he tells 
 it : "I was a soldier first, then was chosen 
 corporal, then sergeant, then orderly ser- 
 geant, then ensign, then lieutenant, then 
 captain, then major and then colonel. 1 
 went too fast from one office to another 
 for my own good. 1 was captain of a 
 company eight years, was major two 
 years, commanded a regiment, the Sev- 
 enth Company, as colonel, one year." 
 Then there was a change in the militia 
 law, and the whole military system of the 
 state was changed. 
 
 The good old days — the days of the 
 tavern and statre coach — have trone. 
 
16 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 HALL OF ROCKVILLE TURN VEREIN, 
 Organized 1858. 
 
VERNON -ROCKNILLE CENTENNIAL CELET'.RATIOX. 
 
 17 
 
 Times ha\e changed and quite naturally 
 there has been a change in methods of 
 transportation. We are hving in a hurry- 
 ing; and worrying age. Time is precious 
 and it appears to be getting more precious 
 as we progress. Possibly before another 
 century arrives the airship will succeed 
 the lightning express, as the lightning- 
 express has succeeded the stage coach. 
 As an institution of the early days, the 
 stage coach and tavern stand pre-eminent. 
 Few of us can recall the stage coach days, 
 but many of us love to read of them and 
 somehow or other most of us feel that 
 while traveling wasn't as fast and pos- 
 sibly not so comfortable then as now, 
 that there was a spirit of neighborliness 
 about it and much human interest. If 
 the old turnpike over which the old stage 
 coach passed could but speak, how many 
 stories rich in heart interest it could tell. 
 Rockville had her share of famous taverns 
 around which are associated many facts 
 of great historic interest. 
 
 "Waffle"' tavern, built by Col. King, 
 was one of the best known of the taverns. 
 It was the first hotel in the tow-n of Ver- 
 non, and was erected prior to the Revo- 
 lutionary war. It was on the stage route, 
 and as it was the custom to change 
 horses frequently, they were always 
 changed at this tavern prior to going over 
 the Tolland hills. The tavern had a 
 reputation with the traveling public 
 which extended far and wide. Times in 
 some respects were little different then 
 than they are today. The quickest way 
 to reach a man's heart, then as now, was 
 via his stomach. The old tavern had 
 many good things to eat, but it made a 
 specialty of waffles. The waffles it made 
 were most delicious. They were so good 
 that people went out of their way t<i sto]i 
 at the tavern just to try thcm.^ Once a 
 customer, always a customer. The repu- 
 tation the tavern had for making excellent 
 waffles led to its being called "Waffle" 
 tavern. During the war with England 
 transportation was very heavy, the old 
 turnpike being lined with teams, there 
 being a continual procession of people. 
 Tavern proprietors made money, and the 
 large business wdiich "Waffle" tavern 
 did was most encouraging, so much so 
 that Col. King felt justified in going 
 
 ahead and erecting a larger tavern to 
 meet the demands. 
 
 King's tavern superseded "Waffle'' 
 tavern, being one of the best hostelries 
 on the road between New York and Bos- 
 ton. It was a relay station where horses 
 were changed. It was built about 1820 
 of brick manufactured near where the 
 buildings now stand. It was known as 
 "King's Stage House." Lafayette passed 
 through Tolland county when he made 
 his memorable visit to the L'nited States 
 in 1824. He was on his way from Boston 
 to Hartford. Expecting to see him, the 
 militia was called out, which consisted 
 of two companies, with the addition of 
 two heavy cannon. I'"rom sunrise until 
 sunset the guns kept up their continual 
 roaring, for his presence was expected 
 every moment. Runners on horses 
 would often tell the troops that he was 
 near b}', until late in the night, the story 
 could be believed no longer. The militia 
 remained at their posts past midnight, 
 then disbanded and lost the pleasure of 
 giving our nation's friend a grand salute. 
 The distinguished visitor finally put in 
 an appearance, stopping long enough at 
 E. Smith's tavern at Tolland to give the 
 people an opportunity to see him, then 
 passing on to King's Stage House, stop- 
 ping some little time. He was met with 
 kind remembrances and good wishes by 
 many old soldiers who had fought with 
 him in the Revolution. One of the vet- 
 erans was Solomon Eaton of Tolland, and 
 he was well remembered by Cjen. Lafay- 
 fc'.ie. After a short interview, hands were 
 shaken. Mr. Eaton said: "I wish you 
 health and a happy journey through this 
 land of liberty and independence." The 
 general replied: "(lod bless you and your 
 land of liberty." In the old building a 
 room was specially decorated for his oc- 
 cupancy, and up to within a short time 
 it retained the paper then put on the 
 walls. Lafayette siient the night in Staf- 
 ford, however, and took breakfast here. 
 Henry Clay and Daniel Webster were 
 other notaI)les to visit this tavern. Daniel 
 Webster's favorite disli was broiled 
 chicken. The mother of Samuel J. Chaf- 
 fee, formerly of Rockville, was employed 
 at King's tavern as cook. .\s the stage 
 stopped but a short time, it rec|uircd ex- 
 
18 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 
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\ I:R.\( ).\ - R( )CK\ILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 19 
 
 pedition in the preparation of tlie meal 
 for the distinguished statesman. The 
 chicken was cauglit, cut in two. and while 
 one half was cooking the other half was 
 being prepared by the cook. Daniel Web- 
 ster had a good meal of chicken, caught 
 the stage, and went on his wav rejoicing. 
 In 1847, when staging was abandoned, 
 the tavern was closed. It was used as 
 a farmhouse until purchased by the town 
 for a town farm. 
 
 Another tavern, or wayside inn, which 
 was well known in the early days of the 
 town, is the Sullivan house at Dobson- 
 ville. It is considerably over 100 years 
 old. While it has been changed some- 
 what and repaired, it conforms closely to 
 its original construction. Many promi- 
 nent people have stopped there and a 
 number of social entertainments have 
 been given there. The old dance hall can 
 he seen at the present day. About six 
 feet from the floor there is a little alcove, 
 where "Bije" Evans, a character in the 
 early days of the town, used to fiddle for 
 the dancers. The music at first would 
 be very slow, become a little faster and 
 end up so fast that it would be almost 
 impossible for the dancers to keep up 
 with it. Whenever things were going 
 slowly and any one desired any amuse- 
 ment, all he need do was to stand on the 
 corner and toot a horn. Within a very 
 few minutes couples would come from 
 all about the neighborhood ready for the 
 breakdown. The menagerie (they didn't 
 have circuses in those days) also exhib- 
 ited in front of this tavern. Several prom- 
 inent men have managed the tavern at 
 various times and there has been a num- 
 ber of occupants of the house. 
 
 Oliver King was for many years 
 prominently identified with Vernon's af- 
 fairs. He 'was the first town clerk and 
 treasurer and held these offices a great 
 many years. It is said that while he lived 
 no other man was ever sent to the legis- 
 lature from the town. It is said that at 
 a caucus called for the nomination of a 
 representative, the moderator, after call- 
 ing the caucus to order, said: "Gentle- 
 men, please bring 'for'ard" your ballots for 
 Oliver King to represent you in the 
 "legislater.' " 
 
 A familiar and welcome sign of long 
 
 ago was the village doctor im horseback 
 with his saddlebags. He lield a very 
 warm spot in the hearts of the people. 
 The friend of every one, he was beloved 
 and venerated next to the minister. His 
 store of huge pills and herbs carried heal- 
 ing and comfort to all the countryside. 
 Dr. Alden Skinner, father of Town Clerk 
 Erancis B. Skinner, was one of the last 
 of these old-time doctors. He is still rc- 
 mendjered by man}' with reverent tender- 
 ness. He was a good man, a kindly man. 
 whose presence in the sick room was a 
 benediction. He carried cheer with him 
 wherever he went. This was part of his 
 medicine. For many years he rode up 
 and down the hills from his office at Ver- 
 non Center, where Randall A Beach now 
 lives. He had a large practice in Ver- 
 non and all the surrounding towns. He 
 charged from 2.t cents to 50 cents for a 
 visit, and when the journey was long, 73 
 cents. Oftentimes he made no charges. 
 Many were the families who were bene- 
 ficiaries of his big heart. He traveled 
 occasionally on horseback, but more often 
 went in his gig, and he got over the roads 
 in great shape. He alwaj-s took good 
 care of his horses and they were never 
 overworked. He was a heroic doctor, or 
 believed in heroic treatment. Blood let- 
 ting, cathartics, antimony, mercury, qui- 
 nine, arsenic, etc., were his favorite rem- 
 edies. Dr. Skinner was a man possessed 
 of an uncommonly strong and vigorous 
 intellect. His memory was large and 
 tenacious. He was a most successful 
 teacher of medicine, having instructed a 
 large number of students. He went to 
 New Orleans in 1862, as surgeon of the 
 2.Sth regiment, Connecticut volunteers. 
 He died March 30. 1863, of malarious 
 typhoid, contracted in the service of his 
 country. He was 64 years old. In his 
 honor the local camp Sons of \'cterans 
 was named after him, being called Alden 
 Skinner camp. 
 
 The name of Talcott has long been a 
 prominent one in Tolland county. The 
 family all descend from John TalcoU. 
 who came from England. John was one 
 of three children born in England. He 
 was left a minor by the death of his 
 father in 1()04. He came to Boston with 
 others of Rev. Mr. Hooker's family. Jo- 
 
20 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAIM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 
 
 
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VERNON -ROCKVILI.E CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 seph Talcott, one of the descendants of 
 John Talcott, was governor of the state. 
 In the church records of the town of Bol- 
 ton the Talcott name frequently occurs. 
 Their names are recorded as ministers of 
 the gospel and deacons of the church, and 
 in the town of Vernon the name is com- 
 mon and prominent, including many of 
 the early settlers who founded the town 
 and who have taken a conspicuous part 
 in its growth and development. Phineas 
 Talcott was one of the distinguished 
 members of this family. His wife was 
 Lora McLean, daughter of Francis Mc- 
 Lean, the founder of Rockville. Phineas 
 Talcott was agent of the Rock Manufac- 
 turing Co. in 1837, organizer of the Amer- 
 ican mills, its largest stockholder and 
 president until his death in 1863. He 
 held numerous town offices and repre- 
 sented Vernon in the legislature. He 
 was for many years the most prominent 
 trial justice in the county and never was 
 more at home than when trying cases. He 
 would tackle anything in sight. He was 
 the delegate to the constitutional conven- 
 tion from Vernon in 1818. The town voted 
 against the new constitution, 98 to 11. 
 George Talcott, president of the Ameri- 
 can Mills company and president of the 
 First National bank, is a son. Although 
 81 years of age, he is vigorous physically 
 and mentally and attends to his business 
 daily. To look at him one would not take 
 him to be a day over 60. 
 
 The village of Talcottville, known as 
 Kelloggville in the early days, having 
 been purchased of Hon. N. O. Kellogg in 
 1856 by Horace W. and Charles Denison 
 Talcott, is a part of the town of Vernon. 
 Its location is ideal, its appearance im- 
 maculate. The similarity of design, color 
 of ornament, and general appearance of 
 its residences is sufficient evidence that 
 the aggregate are under the control of one 
 corporation. Mill, store and dwellings 
 are of the Puritanical whiteness, and the 
 window blinds are of the regulation and 
 time-honored green. Not a fence of any 
 description mars the beauty of the well- 
 kept lawns. The manufacture of I'nion 
 cassimeres has been carried on here for 
 a great many years, the ])rcsent stock 
 company being organized in \X5(>. the 
 Talcott families or their heirs being the 
 
 stockholders. The high moral and re- 
 ligious character of the village inaugur- 
 ated years ago has been maintained down 
 to the present time. There are few hap- 
 pier or healthier communities in New 
 England. 
 
 Snipsic Lake is one of the beauty spots 
 of Rockville. It was formerly a favorite 
 camping ground of the Indians (named 
 by them Lake Schenips-it), as the numer- 
 ous arrowheads, rude stone axes and 
 other Indian relics found on its shores, 
 abundantly prove. It is even to this day 
 a favorite resort of relic hunters. The 
 lake itself is not large. It's an ideal sheet 
 of water, however, and is surpassed by 
 few New England lakes. In its setting 
 and adornment, nature has been most 
 prodigal of her charms. Bordered in part 
 by forest trees, whose tall, graceful forms 
 are mirrored in its pellucid waters, in 
 part by immense boulders, projecting 
 cliffs and fine farms, with here and there 
 a summer cottage, it is destined to be- 
 come an even more favorite summer 
 resort than it is today. With the opening 
 of the new trolley road to Stafford 
 Springs, which passes directly by the 
 lake, thousands of summer visitors are 
 certain to appreciate its beauty. The 
 present height of the dam is 26y> feet. 
 The pond covers 625 acres. The original 
 lake was half that. It is 515 feet above 
 the sea level. 
 
 (Jf the descendants of the Indians who 
 pitched their tents on the eastern slope of 
 .Schenipsit lake, settling near Sucker 
 brook, Aunt Sara and Isaac Rogers were 
 somewhat favorablv known to the early 
 settler. They pitched their hamlet at the 
 head of the pond, the site which is now 
 easily found. Isaac was addicted to 
 drink, and one day, being too full of fire- 
 water, he trolled off in his canoe and wet 
 himself fatally. 
 
 Aunt Sara, a pious, good-natured half- 
 l)reed, found favor with all the inhab- 
 itants, who always generously filled her 
 basket when she made her usual tour. A 
 tract commending her excellences was 
 ]iiil>lislKcl ;ind had considerable circula- 
 tion, in wliii-h. possil)ly, her virtues were 
 exaggerated, although she was indeed a 
 woni;in of ;i tender lieart. 
 
OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOWE WEEK. 
 
 THE MINTERBURN MILLS COMPANY, 
 
 Manufacturers of 
 
 Fine Woolens and Worsteds. 
 
 TIIOMAvS II. SVKES, Presideut. M. C. MAvSON, Treasurer 
 
 FRANK R. RKISKR, SiiiieriiUendfut. 
 
VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 23 
 
 Snipsic Lake, through its outlet, the 
 winding, sinuous Hockanum pours down 
 a grade of one hundred and fifty feet to 
 the mile into the valley below, furnish- 
 ing one of the finest and most easily 
 available water powers to be found in 
 America, and steady. The supply of water 
 is practically inexhaustible, and the de- 
 scent is so rapid that the power may 
 be used over and over again, at surpris- 
 ingly short intervals. To the genius of 
 "Snip," as it is affectionately known, 
 Rockville is indebted for its growth and 
 development for the past century. The 
 beautiful Hockanum is the magic wand 
 which has transformed an unfertile, un- 
 promising and what appeared at one time 
 to be a worthless tract of land, into a 
 thriving city of substantial mills, modern 
 streets, beautiful residences and fine 
 parks. By its invisible arm, gravitation, 
 Snipsic daily sets in motion more than a 
 score of waterwheels, and for the space 
 of more than a mile the Hockanum is 
 literally studded with shops and factories. 
 The wonderful water power has built up 
 a great hive of industries which have 
 contributed to the material progress and 
 prosperity of the city. 
 
 The first mill to the erection of which 
 a date can positively be fixed, was a saw- 
 mill built at Valley Falls in 1740. This 
 mill was altered in 1790 to an oil mill for 
 the manufacture of linseed oil from flax- 
 seed. Another sawmill was built in 1744 
 by one Wolcott of East Windsor. It 
 came into the hands of Peter Dobson, 
 John Warburton, James Chapman and 
 Chester King, in 1809. Peter Dobson was 
 the founder of the first cotton mill in the 
 town of Vernon and one of the first in 
 America. A co-worker with Samuel 
 Slater, the father of cotton manufactur- 
 ing in this country, like him, he brought 
 from England the plans from which he 
 made the machinery that was used in the 
 old mill. A genius in manufacturing, 
 he had great difficulty in getting out of 
 England. There were stringent laws in 
 those days in England and skilled man- 
 ufacturers were watched very closely for 
 fear they would migrate. Air. Dobson 
 was carefully hidden in a hogshead which 
 was rolled on board ship. It was bored 
 full of gimlet holes to give him fresh air. 
 
 After the ship had gotten out some dis- 
 tance he was released from his unpleasant 
 and uncomfortal)le surroundings. 
 
 Manufacturing in Rockville was first 
 started at the stone mill on East Main 
 street, where the new Minterburn mill 
 has been erected. Early in the 18th cen- 
 tury there was a sawmill there, then a 
 gristmill, and finally a blast furnace and 
 iron foundry, where, during the Revolu- 
 tionary war, cannon balls were made and 
 cannon cast from bog ore found in neigh- 
 boring swamps. Subsequently there was 
 a clothiers' mill established for carding 
 and dressing wool finish cloth. It was 
 owned b}^ one Payne, who built a house 
 on East Main street, which at that time 
 was regarded as the finest house in Tol- 
 land county. 
 
 The first hand loom for weaving sat- 
 inets was operated in a dwelling house 
 a little east of the Northwest schoolhouse 
 in Vernon, which is now owned and occu- 
 pied by James Campbell. Delano Abbott 
 and Ebenezer Nash were the gentlemen 
 who engaged in the business. They were 
 given quite a start by Peter Dobson, who 
 possessed unusual mechanical skill and 
 ingenuity, and who built a billey and 
 jenny, which were set up in an outbuild- 
 ing. Mr. Abbott is undoubtedly entitled 
 to the honor of introducing the manufac- 
 ture of satinet in the United States. Later 
 Messrs. Abbott and Nash, with Francis 
 McLean, built the old "Twin" mills on 
 land now owned by the Hockanum com- 
 pany, on the south side of the stream. 
 The "Twin" mills contained two sets of 
 narrow cards and hand looms. From this 
 modest beginning sprang the woolen in- 
 dustries of Rockville. Truly giant oaks 
 from little acorns grow. 
 
 The real beginning of the woolen in- 
 dustry in Rockville was in 1821, when 
 Col. Francis AlcLean, a prominent and 
 wealthy resident of Vernon, bought a 
 tract of land from the Grant estate and 
 built the mill now known as the Rock 
 mill No. 2. standing where Mill No. 1 now 
 stands. This was really the parent null, 
 'i'he capital for this mill was furnished 
 l,v the members of the McLean, Kellogg 
 and Talcott families. .Subsequently it 
 passed into the hands of the late George 
 Kellogg, grandfather of the present Ma.x- 
 
24 
 
 OFFICIAL I'ROCJRAM— OLD Hr)ME AVEEK. 
 
 Hk^^^^ 
 
 HOCKANTiM MII.I.S. 
 
 HOCKANUM COMPANY 
 
 ESTABI.ISHKD 181111-14, 
 INCORPORATKD l»3i;. 
 
 Manufacturers of Fine 
 
 ^ ^ Worsteds and Woolens. 
 
 WiM. MAXWKM,, President. 
 
 R. MAXWHLIv, Vice-President. 
 
 K. T. MAXWELL, Treasurer. 
 
 C. S. BOTTOMLKY, Superintendent. 
 
VERNON - ROCKN'ILLE CENTENNTAL CELEBRATIOX. 
 
 WL'll hnithcrs. A little later Cdl. .McLean 
 sold his interest in the Rock mill and 
 bouo-ht the property where the Envelope 
 mill now stands. He built a mill largely 
 from the timbers of the first church in 
 Vernon, which stood near Kellogg's cor- 
 ners. This mill was known as the Frank 
 mill, departing from custom and honor- 
 ing Col. McLean's Christian name, which 
 was Francis. 
 
 Shortly after the Frank mill was start- 
 ed, Alonzo Bailey of Columbia and 
 Chauncey Winchell of Manchester lo- 
 cated at Rockville and built a small mill 
 at Springville. In 1836 Capt. .Allen Ham- 
 mond, with George Kellogg, built the 
 New England mill. About the same time 
 Phineas and Ralph Talcott and Aaron 
 and Hubbard Kellogg built the mill 
 known as the Leeds mill, which is now 
 the Rock mill No. 3. These early mills 
 in Rockville were among the first woolen 
 industries in America. They were very 
 profitable and made large dividends. The 
 Springville mill paid as high as 100 per 
 cent one year. 
 
 The New England mill was burned 
 during the year 1841. A part of the pres- 
 ent mill was erected in 1841-'42. Prior 
 to this time the only goods manufactured 
 were cotton warps. The New England 
 mill decided to commence the manufac- 
 ture of all-wool fancy "Kerseymeres," 
 and had the new looms from the original 
 George Crompton. It was from ]\Ir. 
 Crompton that Capt. Hammond learned 
 designing. The New England company's 
 looms turned out the first all-wool "Fan- 
 cies" made in America. 
 
 In 1847, under the beneficent influence 
 of a protective tarifi^, the Rock Manufac- 
 turing company greatly enlarged its mills 
 and built new mills. That year the Amer- 
 ican mill was built. The new Frank mill 
 was also built. These were among the 
 first mills to make all-wool cassimeres in 
 the United States. They were all built 
 by local capital. 
 
 The most picturesque mill in Rock- 
 ville is the "Old Stone Alill," owned and 
 operated by the James J. Regan Manufac- 
 turing company. It furnishes one of those 
 rare instances where aesthetics and man- 
 ufactures may be mentioned together. 
 There are few more charming views in 
 
 pictures(|ue Rockville than that presented 
 by the stone mill as one passes up .Main 
 street from Central Park. This companv 
 has three other mills and has undergone 
 a wonderful e.xpansion and does a very 
 large business, having several acres of 
 floor space. 
 
 While Rockville is noted for its wool- 
 en mills, it has another distinction, which 
 every city cannot Ijoast of. It has one of 
 the largest envelope nianufacturing com- 
 ])anies in the country — the White, Corbin 
 company, which concern was among the 
 pioneers in the business. The first enve- 
 lope machine of any account in this coun- 
 try was the work of a Rockville in\'ent<ir. 
 Milton G. Puffer. 
 
 One of the earliest paper mills in Con- 
 necticut was built in Rockville. It was 
 erected early last century and was on the 
 site now occupied by the Belding Silk 
 mill. It was owned by Hale Brothers, 
 proprietors of the New York Journal of 
 Commerce. l*"or many years the pajjer 
 upon which the New York Journal of 
 Commerce was printed was furnished by 
 this mill. The late J. N. Stickney, who 
 married one of Mr. Hale's daughters, was 
 manager of the paper mill here. 
 
 Rockville has within its midst one of 
 the finest silk mills in the country — Beld- 
 ing Brothers & Co. — one of the leading 
 concerns in the business world. It has 
 fine mills in Belding, Mich., in Northamp- 
 ton, Mass., Petaluna, Cal., and Montreal. 
 P. Q., doing a business of over $6,000,000 
 annually. 
 
 The largest fishline factory in the 
 country, making the famous Kingfisher 
 brand of fishlines, is located in Rockville. 
 The firm of K. J. Martin's Sons is known 
 from one end of the country to the other. 
 
 At present there are ten manufactur- 
 ing concerns in Rockville doing business 
 oil a large scale. They are for the most 
 part corporations chartered by the state. 
 There are, however, several smaller en- 
 terprises conducted by private firms. Of 
 the companies, seven are engaged in the 
 manufacture of fine woolen and worsted 
 goods. These arc the Hockanum, 
 Springville, New England company. Rock 
 ^Ianufacturing comi)any, .Vmerican Mills 
 company, the Jas. J. Regan company and 
 the Minterburn Mills company, the infant 
 
2G OFFICIAL PROGRAAF— OFD HOME WEFK. 
 
 The Vernon Woolen Co. 
 
 E. C. HILLIARD, President. 
 
 M. H. WHITE, Treasurer and Manager. 
 
 Manufacturers of 
 
 FANCY CASSIMERES OVERCOATINGS 
 HAIRLINES TRICOTS, ETC. 
 
 Incorporated in 1888 
 
 Post Office and Telegraph Address, VERNON, CONN. 
 Telephone 34-4 — Manchester. 
 
VERNON -ROCKVII.LE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 industry of the place in woolen manu- 
 facturing, but destined to keep pace with 
 its predecessors in high standard of goods 
 and reputation. 
 
 The goods of these companies exhib- 
 ited at Chicago in competition with the 
 best EngHsli, French and German 
 makers were unhesitatingly pronounced 
 by expert judges to be equal, if not su- 
 perior, to any worsted goods in the man- 
 ufacturing department. Thus as a result 
 of this exhibition, it has been shown be- 
 yond peradventure of doubt that, so far 
 as quality of goods is concerned, our 
 American manufacturers have -nothing to 
 fear from foreign competition, and it has 
 also been proved that Rockville stands 
 at the very forefront, the products of its 
 woolen manufacturing plants command- 
 ing worldwide attention and challenging 
 the admiration of expert judges in the 
 woolen industr}'. 
 
 To show the great reputation of the 
 goods produced in the factories of the 
 llockanum I\Iills Co., it may be said that 
 they have made suits to be worn at the 
 inauguration by three different presi- 
 dents of the United States, the Spring- 
 ville company having made the suit worn 
 by President Harrison, the Hockanum 
 company the suit worn by President Mc- 
 Kinley, and the Springville company the 
 suit worn by President Roosevelt. 
 
 The cloth of which these dift'erent 
 suits was made was sold thereafter as 
 among the highest price fabrics on the 
 market, and were named Inauguration 
 cloth, McKinley cloth and Presidential 
 cloth, respectively. 
 
 The cloths were all similar fabrics, 
 being black undressed worsted made of 
 the very finest counts of yarn used in 
 men's wear goods. These yarns took 
 many months to produce, as they were 
 from the very finest selected wool that 
 could be obtained by taking the very best 
 lots from an immense quantity of wool. 
 The goods were London shrunk at the 
 mills and were turned out with a very 
 soft and beautiful finish. 
 
 The mills of this association made the 
 first men's wear goods that were pro- 
 duced in this country from worsted yarn. 
 The Hockanum mill has undoubted proof 
 of this from testimony by yarn manufac- 
 
 turers, that their books showed the first 
 sales of worsted yarn to any men's wear 
 mills were made to the Hockanum. 
 
 The Rock Manufacturing company 
 made the cloth worn by President Ben- 
 jamin Harrison and Vice-President Levi 
 P. Morton at the centennal celebration 
 of the inauguration of George Washing- 
 ton as president of the United States, in 
 New York city, April 30, 1889. 
 
 The cloth is what is known as a Clay 
 Twill and w-as made from a very fine 
 grade of worsted yarn. There were 6700 
 ends and 112 picks of filling to the inch, 
 the dye being alizarine. 
 
 The growth of Rockville has been 
 slow and substantial, rather than showy 
 and meteoric. The entire population was 
 less than a score of families in 1822, six 
 of whom were Grants. In 1823 there were 
 five families in the Rock district. In 1840 
 there were six hundred inhabitants in 
 the chain of little houses that clustered 
 aliout the mills. Lip to the year 1841, so 
 far as can be learned, the people of Rock- 
 ville were accustomed to getting their 
 mail at Vernon Center, which was the 
 "Hub," being the only voting place in 
 the town and the center of business in 
 general. At this time Rockville was just 
 beginning to put on its village clothes. It 
 had no hotels, it had no steam roads and 
 no trolle}' cars. In fact, had any one sug- 
 gested to the Puritanical fathers who held 
 the reins of power that in a short time, or 
 in any age, there would come to Rock- 
 ville a vehicle loaded down with people 
 and drawn by a little wire, they would 
 doubtless have trembled in their boots, 
 fearing that the days of witchcraft were 
 again to have a run, and a suggestion or 
 an intimation that this same spectacle 
 .would rumble and ding dong right past 
 any house of worship on the Lord's day 
 would have been met with emphatic con- 
 tradiction. The polling place for the town 
 was in the conference room of the Con- 
 gregational church at Vernon Center, 
 which was built in 1827. Every one went 
 there to vote until 1856, when town and 
 electors' meetings began to be held in al- 
 ternate years at Rockville and Vernon 
 Center. In 1865 all such meetings were 
 transferred to Rockville. 
 
28 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 rilK l{0( KVILLE NATIOPfAL BANK, of Ifockiillc. ( (.iiiKcdViit. 
 
 DIKErTOHS— Kiiirik (Jniiil, A. I'lirk HiiiiiinoiKl, A. \. Hcldiiii;. Frsiiuis T. Miix««ll. Williiim 
 
 .Wiixwcll. .1. ('. IliiiiinioiKl. Jr.. ( luiilcs riulps. K. (i. KulU r. U. A. Sjkcs. 
 A. Tark }|:iniiiioiiil. I'rcsidciil; Kiiink (;raii(, A icc-rnsidciit; I'. K. Hiunodd, Ciisliicr; K. II. 
 
 Molt. Assisliinl ( iisliNr; Win. K. I'arliidur, IJookkccixr; I). M. Hcckcr. ricik. 
 Ks(iil)lisli<"d is.-,.-,. I'iipital, !ii->00,0(IO. .Suil)lii!« and riofits. $!»'_».(MMI 
 
 Our business is the safe keeping of our Deposits, and Resources in such a manner that 
 they will he perfectly safe, and looking after the welfare and security of our patrons. 
 
 We are frequently iil)le to give counsel in matters of investment, and can sometimes save 
 iiinncy to customers. 
 
 We have also a Safe Deposit department, where valuable papers, etc. can be deposited. 
 
 We buy and sell Sterling and (Continental E.xchange; sell I^etters of Credit available in 
 111! iiarts of the world: Travellers' Checks for domestic and foreign use. and transact a general 
 lianUing business. 
 
VERNON -ROClv\- 1 LLE CEXTENNLAL CELEItRATK ).\. 
 
 29 
 
 In 1836 a buildinj^- was erected in 
 Rockville, where the Henry l)uil<ling- now 
 stands, where the first school was lo- 
 cated and where the first public rclig-ioiis 
 service in Rockville was held. The build- 
 ing was moved and now stands near the 
 Adams brick mill on East Main street. 
 being the last building on the right be- 
 fore crossing the stream. About 1838, or a 
 little later, a Congregational church was 
 erected where the Alemorial building now 
 stands. It was known as the First Con- 
 gregational church. 
 
 Rev. Diodate Brockway acted as 
 supply until Rev. Ansel Nash was 
 installed, Jan. 30, 1839. George Kel- 
 logg and Edward Hall were the first 
 deacons. In 1849 the Second Congrega- 
 tional church was built. It stood where 
 the present Union Congregational church 
 stands. There were 48 members — 29 
 from the First church and 19 from other 
 churches. In 1850 the Baptist denomina- 
 tion built a church on West Main street. 
 The building is now used by the German 
 Lutheran church. A Catholic church was 
 built about the same time. The brick 
 schoolhouse now used as a grammar 
 school was opened in 1849. The Union 
 Congregational church, which is one of 
 the handsomest churches in New Eng- 
 land, was built in 1889, the same year as 
 the 2^Iemorial building. 
 
 The first postofifice in Rockville was 
 started during the administration of Pres- 
 ident John Tyler. Previous to this 
 time the community had no name. It 
 was made up by counting the mills and 
 houses belonging to each corporation. 
 There were several small localities known 
 by different names, to wit.. Rock, New 
 England and Stone mills. Paper mill, 
 Leeds mill. Grist mill. Saw mill, Frank 
 factory, Springville, Hockanum and Sax- 
 ony mills. The place was commonly 
 known as Rock factory. People going to 
 the city from outside would say, "I am 
 going to the Rock." Even to this day 
 that name is used by many of the earlier 
 settlers and older inhabitants. Naturally 
 there was some strife before a name was 
 selected. Each of the clustering villages 
 around the several mills desired to ha\e 
 its own name adopted. It was voted in 
 public meeting, after a liricf canvass, to 
 
 adnpt the name Rockville, after the Rock 
 mill, it Ijcing the pioneer mill of the place. 
 
 Samuel P. Rose was the first post- 
 master in Rockville. He received his ap- 
 pointment May 5, 1842, and it is pre- 
 sumed that previous to his appointment, 
 for a year or more at least, the mail had 
 been brought from Vernon and distrib- 
 uted by him. The postoft'ice was located 
 hi a store kept by Mr. Rose, in a build- 
 ing which stood nearly opposite the John- 
 son building, on what is now Central 
 Park. George Talcott. now president of 
 the First National bank, was a clerk for 
 a while. In 1844 the Moore building was 
 erected, which stood next to the present 
 Methodist church on the site of the Me- 
 morial building, and for some time pre- 
 vious to its being ])ulled down was occu- 
 pied by Carroll & McDonnell. This 
 building was occupied by Sanniel P. Rose 
 and Edward McLean, and it is presumed 
 that the post office was kept here for a 
 brief period, as Mr. Rose's appointment 
 did not expire until June 4, 1845. 
 
 The second postoffice was opened in a 
 house owned by Minerva Stewart. Her 
 father, who was a democrat, was the sec- 
 ond postmaster. Democrats in Rockville 
 in those days were few and far between. 
 
 John Brown, "Old John Brown," of 
 Ossawattamie fame, the forerunner C)f 
 freedom for the black man in the United 
 States, immortalized in song and story, 
 who sacrificed his life for violating the 
 law, but in a just cause, at least so con- 
 sidered from a northern standpoint, 
 whose conduct at Harper's' Ferry proved 
 that he had the stuff that heroes are made 
 of in him, and made his name a househokl 
 word all through the North, was asso- 
 ciated with the business interest of Rock- 
 ville in its early days. He was a frequent 
 visitor in Rockville, being a wool buver 
 in his early days. There are people now 
 living in Rockville who recall him and 
 who were acquainted with him when he 
 came to the city to sell wool. A. Park 
 Hammond and J. C. Hammond. Jr., are 
 among the number. The latter had in 
 his [losscssion until recently a letter and 
 a receipt for money in Brown's handwrit- 
 ing. I'rovvn purchased wool for the old 
 .\'cvv iMigland comjiany wdien George 
 Kellogg (Uncle George) was agent. Tin- 
 
30 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 JfUirt-tL 
 
 COMPLIMENTS OF 
 
 THE J. J. REGAN MFG. CO. 
 
VERNON - R()CK\ILL[-: CENTENNIAL CI'.EICI'.RA'IK )N. 
 
 31 
 
 company had the utiimst cniifidence in 
 his honesty and advanced him money 
 with which to purchase wool in the West. 
 On one occasion $2,800 was placed in his 
 hands for the purpose and the receipt for 
 the same was in Mr. Hammond's posses- 
 sion for a great many years and is prob- 
 ably somewhere among his belongings 
 today. 
 
 Brown was also connected with a Bos- 
 ton firm dealing in cattle. On the occa- 
 sion of furnishing the $2,800 to Mr. 
 Brown, he became somewhat financially 
 involved and in a somewhat tight place 
 generally ; consec|uently the company 
 never fully recovered the amount. Mr. 
 Brown wrote a letter explaining the sit- 
 uation. This letter, which came into Mr. 
 Hammond's possession, is dated at Frank- 
 lin Mills, Aug. 27, 1839, and is directed 
 to "George Kellogg, Esq., agent of New 
 England ^Manufacturing company, Ver- 
 non, Connecticut." This, it will be seen, 
 was before there was any postoffice in 
 Rockville. 
 
 The letter is written on a piece of un- 
 ruled paper nearly the size of a sheet of 
 foolscap. Envelopes were not used at 
 that time and the letter bears the marks 
 of the prevailing style of folding and also 
 the wafer and the marks of the letter 
 seal on the wafer. The figures 25 are 
 doubtless the amount of the postage, 
 which is somewhat higher than the pres- 
 ent day certainly. The letter was dated 
 about four days before mailing, which 
 may be assumed to be due to the further 
 limited postal facilities of those times. 
 
 In the letter, Air. Brown humbles him- 
 self and the whole sentiment is that of 
 regret at being unable to pay at that time 
 and a promise of doing all in his power 
 to liquidate. The New England company 
 never bore any ill will against the man 
 for his failure, but held him in high es- 
 teem. It may be said further to the 
 credit of Mr. Brown that in his will he 
 left the sum of $50 for the comi)any. 
 
 .\. Park Hammond con\-eyed .Mr. 
 jjrown to Hartford by team when he was 
 here. 
 
 The l)ell on the old l''irsl church in 
 Rockville was tolled out of resjject to 
 John Brown at the time he was lianged 
 
 by Governor Wise of Charleston, Vir- 
 ginia, Dec. 2, 1859. 
 
 To understand what we are today we 
 need to go back to the toils and hardships 
 of our ancestors. It is well for us in 
 imagination to turn back the dial of time 
 and stand where our fathers stood. If 
 we incjuire for the cause of the supremacy 
 of Rockville, it will be found in the pur- 
 poses and deeds of men, who in wisdom 
 laid their ])lans, overcame obstacles and 
 made the place worthy of the attention 
 given it. It was not a favorable situation 
 alone nor any single industry (although 
 woolen has done much for the city), that 
 inspired its growth in its earh' days, but 
 a number of intelligent, persevering, far- 
 seeing men, who worked with stout 
 hearts and liy their earnest purpose laid 
 the foundations of prosperity for the town 
 and city. Only by a painstaking self- 
 denial and the e.xercise of great sagacity 
 was success attained. The inlluence of 
 the fathers had much to do with inspir- 
 ing the changes which has made Rock- 
 ville a conspicuous city. Brief mention 
 has been made of a few of these men. 
 There are others who should not be for- 
 gotten, however, among the number be- 
 ing the Kellogg brothers, Nathaniel (). 
 (Cncle George), and .\llyn ; Capt. Allen 
 Hammond and George Maxwell, (ieorge 
 Svkes and William H. Prescott also de- 
 serve a place on the honor roll. .Ml of 
 these have jjassed awa\'. 
 
 Among those now li\ing. no one 
 man has done more for the town 
 than Hon. Francis T. .Maxwell, son of 
 the late (icorge .Maxwell. He is acti\-ely 
 identified with the manufacturing, finan- 
 cial, social and religious interests of the 
 community, and in every respect is a 
 worthy successor to his beloved and la- 
 mented father. Vew men are better or 
 more favorably known about the state, 
 lie is the ideal citizen and a pillar of 
 w hich any community may well be proud. 
 
 ".\ city that is set on a liill cannot be 
 hid." Rockville is set. niit upon a 
 single hill, or seven hills, like ancient 
 Rome, but upon a series of hills. Its sit- 
 uation is striking an<l unique. Located 
 in the highlands of Tolland county, it 
 (i\erlooks the famous Connecticut valley 
 and presents a panorama of some of the 
 
32 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OFD HOME WEEK. 
 
 THE AMERICAN MILLS COMPANY 
 
 (ESTABLISHED 1847.) 
 
 IHH .\MKKICAN .MILLS. 
 
 -^ <- 
 
 Geo. Talcott, Pres. 
 
 C. N. McLean, Treas. 
 
 Ed. F. Badmington, Supt. 
 
 MANUFACTURERS OF FINE FANCY WORSTEDS AND KERSEYS FOR 
 MEN'S WEAR: ALSO HIGH GRADE STANDARD AND 
 FANCY CARRIAGE CLOTHS. 
 
\'KR\()N - R( )CK\1LL1-: CEXTEXXIAl, rKLFJ'.RATIi >\ 
 
 :}3 
 
 most charming landscape scenery to he 
 found in New England. From the top 
 of Fox hill, which is 693 feet above the 
 sea level, a magnificent view not only of 
 the city, but of the country for miles 
 around, is obtained. It is one of the 
 many spots no visitor should neglect. The 
 upper part of North Park street also fur- 
 nishes a delightful prospect. With a good 
 glass, Mt. Tom. ]\It. Holyoke, the state 
 capitol at Hartford and numerous towns 
 and villages can be seen. There are beau- 
 tiful drives and good roads. There are 
 trolley lines running to Hartford, Spring- 
 field and Stafford Springs, and through 
 fast service from Hartford to Boston is 
 expected before a great while, but a few 
 links remaining to be connected. The 
 city is halfway between New York and 
 Boston. It has the best drinking water 
 in the state and a modern gas and electric 
 service. Its people are happy because 
 healthy, the place being one of the most 
 healthful communities in the state. 
 
 The daily wants of Rockville are sup- 
 plied by over one hundred stores, shops 
 and markets. There are numerous sub- 
 stantial and handsome business blocks, 
 and for a community of its size, there are 
 few, if any, that can l)oast of so many 
 costly and magnificent residences. There 
 are three parks, and a feature that speaks 
 well for the community is the fact that 
 a large percentage of the jioople own their 
 own homes. 
 
 The city has two national banks with 
 deposits of $700,000, doing a yearly Inis- 
 iness of $23,273,800: two savings banks 
 with deposits of $3,407,000. a building and 
 loan association with assets of $110,000, 
 a weekly pay.roll of $25,000. The assessed 
 valuation of the property is $6,021,096. 
 and a yearlv freight business of 80,000 
 tons is 'done'. There are eight churches, 
 three church or parochial schools, twenty- 
 three graded public schools, with free text 
 books, teaching music, manual training 
 and sewing, besides the regular courses. 
 The high school building was completed 
 in 1893 at a cost of $40,000. 'llie parochial 
 school building, which was completed 
 about the same time, cost about the same. 
 The schools are famous for their high 
 grade and efficiency. The public library, 
 which is an imposing buililing, enhancmg 
 
 the beauty and adding to the attractive- 
 ness of Union street, where it is located, 
 contains over 10,000 volumes. It is a 
 gift to the city by the ]\Iaxwe!l family as 
 a memorial to George IMaxwell. There 
 is a reading room in connection with the 
 library. The church buildings are mod- 
 ern and attractive. Uifion church, which 
 was built in 1889 at a cost of $75,000, and 
 the new St, Bernard's Roman Catholic 
 church, which took the place of the one 
 destroyed by fire and which is not wholly 
 completed yet, are as handsome churches 
 as can be found in any comnumity. Rock- 
 ville's Memorial hall, erected by the town 
 in 1889 in memory of the soldiers and 
 sailors who fought in the Civil war, is a 
 structure of character and dignitj'. It 
 has an elegant puljlic hall capable of seat- 
 ing 1,000 persons. The building contains 
 the rooms of Burpee post, G. A. R., the 
 city offices, the town offices, the police 
 court room, the Superior court room, the 
 bar library and other public rooms. 
 
 A city hospital, made j^ossible by the 
 Prescott family, William H. Prescott hav- 
 ing given $50,000 before his death, and 
 the family having contributed the site, 
 will be a reality in a few years. It will 
 supply a long felt want and bring joy to 
 all hearts. The magnificent generosity 
 of the Sykes family, which insures a 
 manual training school, is referred to 
 elsewhere. Very few cities with a popu- 
 lation of 9,000 can boast of a trio of such 
 magnificent and at the same time prac- 
 tical gifts as a free public library, a man- 
 ual training school and a city hospital. 
 Surelv these are splendid monuments of 
 the nnhlc-mindedness of the living and 
 the dead, unmistakable evidence of pri- 
 vate munificence. The wealth acquired 
 bv honest industry flows back in a stream 
 of beneficence when its possessors realize 
 their obligations to u.se their wealth as a 
 trust for the benefit of others, and such 
 beneficence appears in Rockville in the 
 gifts of the .Maxwell, Sykes and Prescott 
 families. 
 
 Vernon (Rockville) has indeed reason 
 to be proud of her record at the end of 
 lier first century. .\ wonderful change 
 has come to the' c|uiet little hamlet of an 
 hundred years ago. Then there were 
 seven hun'dred souls, mostly Yankee far- 
 
34 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 Manufacturer of Frames 
 Mouldings and Mirrors. 
 
 Mirrors and Regilding 
 A Specialty. 
 
 
 Established Thirty-Two Years 
 
 H. 
 
 H. WILLBS, 
 
 
 ART STORE. 
 
 Oil Paintings and 
 Engravings, Etchings, 
 Water Colors, Pastels. 
 
 j.^-N_j Jobber of Glass 
 \j_^ and Mirrors. 
 
 No. 1013 Main Street, Hartford, Conn. 
 
 Special Prices and Contracts 
 Made on Large Orders. 
 
 Wholesale and Retail. China and Materials 
 Telephone 102-6. for China Painting. 
 
 I AGREE WITH YOU . . . . i^^T^ 
 
 BOOST THE CENTENNIAL. 5^ 
 
 Special PRICES for Cloth Lettering 
 
 FOR OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 Order EARLY to AVOID the RUSH. 
 
 Carnage, Sleigh, Sign and Auto Paintmg. 
 
 Special attention j^iven to 
 
 AUTOMOBILES anu SIGIV >VORIv. 
 
 C. E. LUDWIG, 
 
 12 ORCHARD STREET, 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
VERNON - RQCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEllRATION. 
 
 35 
 
 mors, Init a few manufacturers. Today 
 N'eriHMi is nine thousand strong-, with a 
 reputation for manufacturing that extends 
 far and wide, and reaching the high-water 
 mark of excellence, being first in the 
 states in the manufacture of the finest 
 worsted and woolen goods, silk fishlines 
 and spool sewing silks, the home of the 
 Hockanum worsteds, Belding silks, King- 
 fisher silk fishlines, and the parent mill 
 of the United States Envelope company. 
 The city operates eight hundred looms, 
 thirty-five thousand spindles and five hun- 
 dred braiders. Three thousand and three 
 hundred hands are employe<l, willi ;i 
 weekly payroll of $25,000, and a xearlv 
 output of 1,200,000 yards of cloth. if 
 the change is great today, think what it 
 will be in an hundred vears fmm now! 
 
 The secret of Rockville's prosperity is not 
 dilTicult to solve. The great woolen fac- 
 tories are in Rockville today because their 
 owners or their fathers have made their 
 money in Rockville and are loyal to Rock- 
 \ille. Surely Rockville lives up to her 
 name, the "Loom City," a city in which 
 its looms of industry are building honest 
 riches; a city whose hills loom into the 
 regions of pure air and invigorating 
 health, crowned by good old New Eng- 
 land homes in which abide industry and 
 integrity ; a city whose achievements in 
 all the ])ursuits of life and wdiose contri- 
 huti(ins to the state and nation loom high 
 in the estimation of the American broth- 
 erhood of municipalities. This is Rock- 
 ville on this centennial — the "Loom 
 Citv." .. 
 
 TIUI'LE STKEETS. SHOWIXi ST, 
 
 »EI{\A1!I»S IEI{I«.V<E. .>II1>1»I.K liOAlt A M> lASl 
 MAIN STliKET. 
 
36 
 
 OFFICIAL I'RO(;RA^[— OLD lIo.MI': WI^I'.K. 
 
 CHEAP FUEL ANYWHERE 
 IN ROCKVILLE 
 
 IF YOU 
 
 Wr 
 
 % 
 
 COOK 
 
 WITH 
 
 GAS.. 
 
 m 
 
 A Bright, Cheerful Home and an Up-to-date 
 BUSINESS HOUSE 
 
 IF YOU 
 
 Light With Electricity 
 
 ROCKVILLE GAS cS: ELECTRIC COMPANY, 
 
 "DISIM^LLKRS OF DARKNESS." 
 
VERNON - ROCKVILLE CEXTENXI Al. CELEBRATION. 
 
 CHARLES PHELPS, 
 President of General Committee for Ver- 
 non Centennial Celebration. 
 
 THOMAS F. NOOME, 
 Vice-President Vernon Centennial Cele- 
 bration Committee and Chairman of 
 Committee on Public Exercises. 
 
 J. C. HAMMOND, JR. 
 Secretary, Member Committee 
 on Decorations and Member of Com- 
 mittee on Historical Address, 
 Events and Relics. 
 
38 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 McNeil & Conway, 
 
 GROCERIES 
 
 AND 
 
 PROVISIONS 
 
 Fruits and Vegetables 
 in Their Season. 
 
 Fine Teas and Coffees 
 a Specialty. 
 
 Buy the Uuited States Brand of 
 Cr.ciied Goods and have the best. 
 
 12 MARKET STREET. 
 
 'Phone 46-12. 
 
 IF I\ WANT <»F AWTHIXi IN THK 
 
 Tea, Coffee, Grocery 
 and Pro\ ision Line, 
 
 I,(inc vol I! (HiltKHS AT 
 
 BEINHAUER'S, 
 
 (OK. vii,i.A(;k iiiKi \\\nit sis 
 Ai,s(» A Ki i>i, mm; ov 
 
 Fruits and Vegetables 
 
 IN si:ls(»\ 
 
 TKI,. (AM,. 
 
 Do 
 
 You Know 
 
 
 That 
 
 rvi 
 
 innn violins 
 
 11 
 
 l<|<ll BOWS 6. 
 
 MJ L 
 
 M.\i.\\J STRINGS 
 
 
 Are tlie Choice 
 
 
 of A r t i s t .s 
 
 
 Throughout 
 
 
 the 
 
 
 World. 
 
 
 ? 
 
 Roc 
 
 cville's Well-Kuowu 
 
 
 Violinist, 
 
 George Peter Wendlieiser, | 
 
 Also 
 
 Recommends Them. 
 
 
 'NUF SAID. 
 
 Charles A. Davis, 
 
 No. 8 DAVIS AVE. 
 
 Livery and Feedin? Stables. 
 
 iSrsSES Kl UNISIIKI) TO ( AHKV rAHTIKS. 
 
 i;i »HEI{-TH{KI» 1!A( KS KOI{ >VEI>l>IN(;s. 
 
 I TNEKALS. ET(. 
 
 MOVING CAREFULLY DONE. 
 
 BEST SANK I I HNISIIEK EOI{ All. 
 
 rnn'osEs. 
 
 rii(in<> (->4-'> 
 
VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIOX. 
 
 39 
 
 FRED WOODHALL, 
 
 Assistant Secretary of General Commit- 
 tee, Member of Committees on 
 Decorations and Sports. 
 
 PARLEY B. LEONARD, 
 
 Treasurer General Committee Member of 
 Committee on Reception and Invita- 
 tions, Chairman Board of Select- 
 men Town of Vernon. 
 
 FRANCIS B. SKINNER, 
 
 Member of the Committees on Sports, 
 
 Transportation ; Present Town Clerk 
 
 of the Town of Vernon. 
 
 GEORGE FORSTER, 
 
 Member of Committees on Reception and 
 
 Invitations, Sports, Public Safety, 
 
 Mayor of the City of Rockville. 
 
40 
 
 r)FFICIAL PROr.RAAr— ( »rj) HoAII' \\'EEK. 
 
 Hugh Kernan, 
 
 DEALER IN 
 
 WOOD. 
 
 ^ 
 
 WOOD OF ALL KINDS FURNISHED IN 
 AM LLXJTH AND DELIVKRED IN LAROE 
 OH SMALL LOTS. 
 
 TEAMIN(i AND .nOVI\(J DONE TO OltDKH. 
 
 ^ 
 
 52 Grove St., 
 
 Rockville, Conn. 
 
 Arno M. Weber, 
 
 Dciilcr ill 
 
 ENA1IELED. TIN. (JLASS AND AVOODEN 
 
 WAKE. DIfY AND FAN( V (;00DS. 
 
 (TTLERV. (ROCKERY. OIL 
 
 CLOTH. SILVER- 
 
 P L A T E D 
 
 WARE. 
 
 TOYS. NOTIONS. NOVELTIES, 
 
 LADIES' AND (JENTS* FURNISHINGS. 
 TOIiA( CO. ('<»NFE( TIONEin. 
 
 FIVE AND TEN-CENT (JOODS. 
 S( IIOOL Sri'l'LIES. SOUVENIR FOST-CAIiDS 
 HEADQUAIJTEHS FOR HOLIDAY 
 (JOODS, ETC. 
 
 Tflf|ilioii«' Couiii'ctions. 
 
 102 West Main St , Rockville 
 
 Prfsidt'ut Vict'-Presidciit 
 
 WM. BUTLER GEO. TALCOTT 
 
 ;", Seerctarj- and TrciisHi-cr 
 
 A. T. BISSELL 
 
 Savings Bank of Rockville 
 
 KOCKVJLLE, CONN. 
 . Iii('iii'])oi'!iU'd 1858 
 'I'iMistees 
 
 H. GARDNER TALCOTT 
 
 E. G. BUTLER 
 
 WM. BUTLER 
 
 GEORGE TALCOTT 
 
 H. L. JAMES 
 
 .1. C. HAMMOND, JR. 
 
 A. R. GOODRICH 
 
 A. T. BISSELL 
 
 E. L. HEATH 
 
 WM. MAXWKLL 
 
 FHINIOAS M. TALCOTT 
 
 ANDREW KINGS HURY 
 
 l)(')i()sit!s coiiiiiiciicc 
 diij's of .Isiiiiiiiry, .Vjiril, .Inly iind October. 
 
 Dividends are |iayal)le on the tirst days of 
 A|>ril and (h-tolier. The rale of difidend notv 
 paid is t Iter eent. 
 
 11ANKL\(! HOURS: 
 From !l a. mi. Io I.:i0 \t. iii. 
 
 Satnrilajs '.) ». in. to 12 ni. 
 .)l Hilda V and Friday E\eniiius. 7 to S.:tO. 
 
 DAVID A. SYKES 
 
 JASPER A. FITCH 
 
 L. T. TINGIER 
 
 P. B. LEONARD 
 
 F. SWINDELLS 
 
 HALSEY L. ALLEN 
 
 F. T. MAXWELL 
 
 C. A. THOMPSON 
 
 interest on the tirst 
 
 Art Perfected is the 
 \\^)rk of Genius: : 
 
 WE ARE PliEI'ARED TO DO ALL KINDS 
 OF PIIOTO(;i{APIII( WORK. ItOTH IN THE 
 STUDIO AND l\ vol U (»WN HO.MF. 
 
 WE HAVE PLEASED OTIIEHS: WE (AN 
 PLEASE YOU. MAKE AN APPOINT.AIENT 
 TODAY. 
 
 McKINSTRV, 
 
 PHOTOGRAPHER. 
 
 NKVV CHENEY BLOCK, 
 
 South Manchester, 
 
 Tier.. l.->7 
 
 Conn. 
 
VERNON -ROCK\TLI.E CENTKNXIAI. CEIJ-nRATroX. 
 
 FRANCIS T. MAXWELL, 
 
 Chairman of Finance Committee and 
 
 Member of Committee on Historical 
 
 Addresses, Events and Relics. 
 
 FRANCIS A. RANDALL, 
 
 Chairman of Advertising, Publicity anj 
 
 Printing Committee, Secretary of 
 
 Finance Committee, Member 
 
 of Committee on Licenses 
 
 and Privileges. 
 
 DAVID A. SYKES, 
 
 Member of Committee on Public Exer- 
 cises and Committee on Licenses 
 and Privileges. 
 
 JOHN W. HEFFERON, 
 
 Member of Committees on Finance and 
 
 Public Exercises and Chief of Rock- 
 
 ville Fire Department. 
 
42 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 V CPMOM CRIlA/WCPY COMI^AMY. 
 
 MA\UrACTLIRCr^5 OV' 
 
 rA/WOUS VEPNON BUTTr_R. 
 
 THE ACME OF PERFECTION. 
 
 NONE BETTER MADE. 
 
 AWARDED SILVER MEDAL AT PARIS EXPOSITION. 
 
 TAKEN FIRST PREMIUMS WHEREVER EXHIBITED. 
 
 /M.rPliD O. TUPai L, President. A. W. ANNI5, .Si iix^rinfc latent. 
 
 171 IIK.II STPIzHT, I^OCKVILLE, CONN. 
 Tclc|)hone 12. 
 
 WENDHEISER'S MUSIC STORE. ^s^^^y-^^d ^S89 
 
 (iEORGE PETER WENDHEISER. 
 Occupyiufi TWO FLOORvS of the DOANE BLOCK, Corner Main and Market Streets. 
 ONLY MUSIC STORE in ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 (I>: Very few cities ttie size of ROCKVILLE, and even larger, can boast of having such 
 a finely equipped and UP-TO-DATE MUSIC STORE. The fact of our being coni- 
 jjelled to add more room each year is proof that the GOOD PEOPLE of Rocl^- 
 ville and the adjoining TOWNS appreciate the way we conduct our business, and 
 encourage OUR EFFORTS with their SUBSTANTIAL PATRONAGE. 
 Ol'R AIM is to supply only the VERY BEST GRADES of MUSICAL INSTRU- 
 MENTS and at the LOWEST PRICES. It will be easy for us to convince you of 
 our ability to do this if you will call. Remember that a GOOD NAME is something 
 to RELY upon nowadays, and the WENDHEISER NAME has STOOD for HON- 
 ESTY and INTEGRITY before the ROCKVILLE PUBLIC for the PAST FIFTY 
 YEARS. Every PROMISE made HAS BEEN KEPT. (Thank you for your kind 
 attention.) 
 
 jm;s: 
 
 IMA.NO.S— Pliiycr I'iiinos. riiino rii!.v< rs (»|{(;A>S. 
 VI(;T<M! TALKIXJ .>rA(HIM;S. Vl< roif l{i:( OHII.S; Kiconl (nl.iiHts. 
 E1)IS(».\ I'H(»\<M;I{AI'IIS. KKISON lfi:((>l{llS: \ ((.miiUtt- Sf<Kk. 
 .Sheet .Miisie; All the roiTI-AH Ml SI< at I7e :i etipj, :( Copies .'.(le. 
 I he .MeKiiiley Kdifioii of l(»e Music. 
 'I'lie ('<'n(nr.v Kdition of Kle .Music. 
 
 The Schiriuer l.ilinirj of ( hissical Music. 
 Siiiiill liistiutueiits Aiiythiim from :i .IKWSIIAIU' to a IJA.SS FIDDLK. 
 Piano Tuninu Kepiirtnient in ( har«e ol KXTEKTS; TRY THEM. 
 AWTIIIX; AMI EVKKVTHINC; .MUSICAL. 
 
VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 43 
 
 GEORGE P. WENDHEISER, 
 Member of Committee on Advertisin| 
 Publicity and Printing, Public Exer- 
 cises, Licenses and Privileges. 
 
 FRANCIS J. REGAN, 
 
 Member of Committees on Public Safety 
 
 and Transportation. 
 
 HARRY C. SMITH, 
 
 Secretary Committee on Advertising, 
 Publicity and Printing. 
 
 C. D. TALCOTT, 
 
 Treasurer Finance Committee for Vernon 
 Centennial Celebration. 
 
44 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 Thomas Lutton, 
 
 BOTTLING 
 WORKS 
 
 The finest Make of Soda and Seltzer 
 Water to be found in the City. 
 Order.s for Picnic, Dances, Etc.. 
 Ktc, Promptly Delivered. 
 
 Windermere Ave. 
 
 SINGER. 
 
 Wheeler & Wilson 
 Sewing Machines. 
 
 The latest Improved and Lightest 
 Running Machines on the market. 
 
 Sold for Cash or Installments. 
 
 Try a Singer and you will have ut 
 
 other. Lady Demonstrators for 
 
 all machines sold. 
 
 Singer Store, 
 
 H7 UNION S'fklUvT, 
 Tel. ri-)-i. Rau's I'.lock, 
 
 P. H. REiNMUTH, Mi;r. Rockville, Conw. 
 
 Orren C. West, 
 
 DEALER IN 
 
 SHENIPSIT 
 leE 
 
 ¥ 
 
 13 Mountain Street, 
 Rockville, - - Conn. 
 
 Strong & Co., 
 
 Ret;iii Dealers in 
 
 MEATS, 
 !\)ultr\ and ProMSions. 
 
 W INDSOR AVENUE. 
 
 N. R. — I make a Specialt>' of 
 HOMI'; l)Rl{SSp;i) POLLTRV. 
 
 Telephone Connection. 
 
VERNON -ROCKVTLLE CEXTENXIAL CELFJ'.RATION. 
 
 45 
 
 A. B. PARKER, 
 
 Member of Committees on Historical 
 Addresses, Events and Relics, Invi- 
 tations and Reception. 
 
 H. H. WILLES. 
 
 Member of Transportation and Public 
 
 Safety Committees. 
 
 CHARLES BACKOFEN. 
 
 Treasurer of Committee on Advertising, 
 
 Publicity and Printing. 
 
 PAUL BRACHE. 
 
 Member of the Committee on Transporta- 
 tion, Member of Board of Selectmen 
 Town of Vernon. 
 
46 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 A J. CAVANAUGH F. H. Bl'RKR 
 
 Cavanaugh & Burke 
 
 Dealers in 
 
 FURNITURE, 
 
 Bedding, Carpets, Draperies, 
 Curtains, Fixtures, Etc. 
 
 30 East Main St., Rockville, Conn. 
 
 EMBALMERS and UNDERTAKERS- 
 
 Tablets. Monuments. Markers 
 
 Mausoleums. Latest Desiens. Vaults. 
 
 Hartford Monumental Works, 
 
 r I i!ki-:i:n-, vi,,],. 
 
 COR. MAIN AND WINDSOR STS., HARTFORD. CONN. 
 
 Represented by J. K. H.WUKN. 
 
 Telephone Conn. la Webster St., Rockville. Conn. 
 
 Send to J. F. Havden for Catalog. 
 
 Sparkling 
 New England Beer 
 
 Is brewed in a large sanitary brewery 
 where every attention is given to the 
 brewing of pure healthful Beer. 
 
 It's a tonic and a food — gives new life 
 and strength to the whole system. 
 
 The New England 
 Brewing Co., 
 
 HARTFORD, . CONN. 
 
 To the Particular Man! 
 You Want the Best, 
 Don't You? 
 
 One trial will coiuince \ou thai 
 ours i.s the place to get it. 
 
 Highest grade work at reasonable 
 prices. 
 
 Try us for results. 
 
 Sanitary Laundry 
 
 Arthur D. Schlaf & Co. 
 24 Market St., Rockville, Conn. 
 
 Call. Tel. 5-5. 
 
VERNON -ROCKVILLE CEXTENNIAE CELEBRATION. 
 
 47 
 
 CHARLES N. McLEAN. 
 
 Member of the Committee on Public 
 Safety. 
 
 MORITZ KEMNITZER, 
 Member of Committee on Public Exer- 
 cises and Chief Marshal for Military 
 and Civic Parade. 
 
 JOHN E. FAHEY, 
 Judge of Probate. 
 
 GEO. W. RANDALL, 
 Postmaster. 
 
48 
 
 OFl'ICIAL rRn(,R\.M -(il.D HOME WJCI-.K. 
 
 F. \V. BRADLEY 
 
 DKALKR IN 
 
 An Kinds of LUMBER 
 
 SHINGLES, CLAPBOARDS, LATHS, ETC 
 LIME, CEMENT, SAND AND GRAVEL 
 
 Office and Mills, ig Grove Street, 
 
 ^ocliville, Conn, 
 
 THrCKINCi. 
 
 Stables, 1 14 East Main Street. 
 
 TELEPHONE 
 
 Snow Hardw are Co. 
 
 Successor to OTIS SNOW 
 
 HARDWARE. CUTLERY, BICYCLES, SPORTING GOODS, PAINTS, 
 OILS AND FARMING IMPLEMENTS AND SUPPLIES. 
 
 STORE, 36 UNION STREET, . . ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 BUICK 
 
 MODEL 10 
 
 Price $1)00 
 
 Complete witli 3 Oil 
 Lamps, Cjenerator, 
 (i as Headlights, 
 Horn and Repair 
 Outfit. 4 C\linder 
 Shaft Drive 
 
 GARAGE, 3 1 ELM STREET, ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 AUTOMOBILE STORAGE, REPAIRS AND SUPPLIES, 
 
 BUICK Al'TOMOBILE AGENCY. 
 
VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 49 
 
 11 
 
 
 =^?T 
 
 "FIBE KIJiG," FAMOrS OLD HAND ENGINE, WHRH TOOK A ( ONSPKIOIS 
 THE EARLY FIIJE-FIGHTING DAYS I> ROCKVILLE. NOW THE 
 PROPERTY OF PAWTUXET FIREMEN. 
 
 'AIM IN 
 
 "Fire King," the old liand engine, is insei)aral)ly a.s.sociated with the early hi.s- 
 tory of Rockville. An entire chapter might well be written on firefighting days be- 
 fore the war. Older residents recall them. They were days that will live long in 
 memory— different than the firefighting days of this modern age, and when con- 
 trasted with these days, bringing vividly before us the wonderful changes time lias 
 wrought in firefighting methods. Electric wires were unheard of then. It was huig 
 power, and the man who could •■holler" the loudest was the best fellow. This 
 would start the mill bells going, and the noise by these combined flesh and brass 
 alarms was something to strike terror to every inhabitant. Did any one sleep 
 through these noises? Well, hardly, and almost everybody not sick in bed was out 
 to the fire, regardless of wind or weather. 
 
 There were no prosecutions for "ringing in" false alarms then, for no false alarms 
 were given, taking a strict view of the matter. What matter if a few packing boxes 
 or tar barrels did get ablaze in some mysterious manner? There were no tramps 
 about in those days to lav the cause to. And it was the people who saw these fires 
 and imagined some house on fire who gave the alarm, and with good intentions. 
 Xobody\o blame. Hesides there was no expense when the department was called 
 out onlv occasionallv wounded feelings. The remuneration the fire laddies received 
 
50 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 McPHAIL PIANOS 
 
 SEVENTY -YEARS 
 MADE ON HONOR 
 SOLD ON MERIT. 
 
 Have received over 50 awards of gold and silver medals in 
 competition with the world's best makes of pianos. 
 
 There are over 20,000 of these instruments in the homes of 
 the best musical people of Boston and vicinity, and they 
 are endorsed bv musicians of national reputation. 
 
 GEORGE PETER WENDHEISER, 
 
 Fac/ory Represenfafhe For 
 ROCKVILLE AND VICINITY, 
 
 Corner Main and Market Streets, 
 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 \VILLI.A.M A. AGARD, President. 
 
 Open a Bank Account and Watch 
 it grow by depositing with the 
 
 Savings Bank of Tolland. 
 
 T\ 5cif(\ Strong ciiul Souiul hLstirurioi\. 
 
 Deposits $275,000.00 
 
 Surplus and Profits 30,000.00 
 Rate of Dividend 4% 
 
 Special Attention given to P>:uiking- 1.)\- 
 Mail. Thi.s bank has gone to a very largc 
 expense iu adopting a system of Private 
 Auxiliary Banks, in Order to take care of 
 the small savings of all classes of People. 
 Why not get one of these banks for \onr- 
 self or children. 
 
 Send us a Postal card re((uest or come 
 to the bank yourself. 
 
 FRANK T. NEWCOMB, Treasurer. 
 
 tSvliffiii'ii iic cm liinito oiif imioirr i^onf iniJ 
 
 Savings Bank of Tolland. 
 
 liiiu- )"id)cvo, fliu-fc luib friiftiiic v^iiftitiitinii. 
 
 Dcpositim S57j.O0D 
 
 llcbcvsfl)iui; u. pvofitc oO.OOO 
 
 Spfilrllr iHufmnfjaniti'U luirb bnii i^iuif uirvni 
 pi'v >J.HHit iiruiiJunt. Ciric iMUif \w cuu- lu'tioiitfiitir 
 '.JliKMiiUu- (ivinnilit, iim biu^ *J.<viiuiti' iHUirji.U'icii oiiiiii 
 Iniriieii, inii Mo flciitcu tSripcnniic iilli'v flaficii ^^■ •i^c 
 luiltfvuiui ill ^l'polli^•cll. aiMiriiiii iiulit fin S^iiutloiitf 
 tiir 5u' otin- ,^U)Vf .«iiibi'v frbffiini. 
 
 ■J[lfari]i'ii Sic cm C'V'iuil) per tHil'iUutc D^r^ loin 
 men v2ic icibft unil) bfv t\\n\. 
 
VERNON - ROCKX^ILLE CENTENNIAL CELERRATIOX. 
 
 for yankins the (.1.1 hand engine over the rough streets and u]) and down the steep 
 hills was the leelinL; that they had done their duty. The engines burned no coal and 
 there were no tire police to pa\^ 
 
 To speak of the Rockville fire department in the days of long ago without calling 
 attention to the "false alarms" would be considered a high crime misdemeanor, to 
 use the words of an old German professor. Of these "false alarms" it is only 
 necessary to mention one. It was the king of them all, however. There are some 
 here in our midst today who remember it, and there are some here, too, who dare 
 insinuate that there are those here who could tell, by practical experience, the ins 
 and outs of that false alarm. At that time there was no common council to ])ay a 
 detective for looking up the criminal's. Indeed, there was no ordinance relative 
 to the matter. A lesson may have been learned from that incident, however, as 
 it may be proper to assume that one or more of those "alarm ringers" may have 
 seen service in the city council and had a hand in framing the present ordinance. 
 
 P.ut now for the false alarm which has gone into history, mostly unwritten, per- 
 haps. It was not long after old "I-"ire King" had been purchased. The members 
 of the fire department then were the first men of the village. They were proud of 
 belonging to the department, too. At that time the Saxony pond was quite large. 
 The mills all made their own gas and one man suggested that some of it must have 
 run out into the stream. Be that as it may, one awfully stormy night, a night 
 hardly fit for a human being to be out of doors, the snow piled two feet on the 
 level, the old-fashioned alarm "rung out" on the snowy air. "Fire King" boys, ever 
 ready for a contest, were onto their job, to use a somewhat slang term. They ran, 
 tugged, pulled and puffed away for a weary mile — the longest mile they had been 
 up against in all their experience — and lo and behold! what did they find? A blaze 
 from a huge pile of tar barrels, boxes, etc. on the further corner of the pond. Those 
 with an\- imagination can readily picture how these men felt and acted. Human 
 nature is human nature the world over. It wasn't any different then than it is to- 
 dav. Were they sore, were they angry ? Well, it's quite likely they were. They 
 ra\ed (never swore of course), and vowed eternal vengeance on the perpetrators 
 of the joke. One or two of the recognized leaders in the afl:'airs of the town, who 
 were looked upon as pillars in the community, held high their purses in the air. 
 They were anxious to give large sums in rewards for the detection of the offenders 
 against the sacredne.ss yf Rockville's fire system. .\ wise headed man, however, 
 put his hand upon the benevolent chami)ions of law and order, and suggested: "I 
 wouldn't do it, Capt. ; it might possibly hit too near home." 
 
OFFICIAL PROGRAM—OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 One of the Best Attractions for 
 
 Old Home Week 
 Centennial Celebration 
 
 For tliciWiiii or IJoy «lio is liiokiiiii' to lie Mcll Dressed will lie found in the Fine l>ine 
 of Clothing'. Fnrnishinu'N. Huts, taps. Trunks and Baas. Fte., at Our .Store. 
 
 Buy Dependable Cloths. 
 
 The QUALITY slionid lie a matter lor Careful < onsi<I<'ratioii. The inexperieneed jierson 
 has little eoneeption as tti how nmeli depends on »drlvnianship. This liein«- so. eonld joti 
 nse better judgnient than to trade «ith a honse as well and favorably known as this onej We 
 cannot sell jon a !|il."i.00 Suit for $N.Os, nor can any one else, honestly; hnt we will sell you 
 the best clotliinia: we can liny at the very lowest prices we can, rijihtly, and on this liasis 
 solicit your trade. >Ve can and will sell the same ifuality goods lower than you can bny in 
 Hartford. LOOK FN AND .SEF US, 
 
 
 Clothes to Measure. 
 
 We Make A Specialty of These* 
 
 We will make you a Suit from our Finest ISockville Worsteds (>'o better Domestic 
 Woolens in this country), at !|!21,.»0; same as Tailors charge from $30 to $'i'>. GIVE US A 
 CALL AIND SFF SOME IJEAUTIFUL WOOLENS, 
 
 THIS IS THE LEADIXO UEPRESEXTA IT VE STOKE. EVERTTHIISiJ THE BEST. 
 
 Yours 'Respectfully, 
 
 F. M. BRIGHAM. 
 
 5 Elm Street, Rockvillet Conn. 
 
VERNON -ROCKYILr.E CENTRNNIAI. CELERRATIOX. 
 
 53 
 
 HON. E. STEVENS HENRY, 
 Serving his 7th Term as Member of Congress from 1st Congressional District, has 
 Held Numerous Town. City and State Offices. Actively Identified with the 
 Business Life of the Town Over Quarter of a Century Ago. Treas- 
 urer of People's Savings Bank and One of the State's Promi- 
 nent Financiers. Prominent in Agriculture. 
 
54 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 E H. PRESTON, 
 
 DEALER IN- 
 ALL KINDS OF 
 
 Furniture, Carpets, Rugs, Oil Cloth, 
 Shades, Etc., Etc. .^ ^ ^^ -.^ 
 
 FUNERAL A FULL LINE OF 
 
 r)TDp(^"rQD Funeral Supplies 
 
 
 Always in Stock. 
 
 PROMPT SERVICE. 
 
 POPULAR PRICES. 
 
 E. H. PRESTON, 
 
 PARK STREET, ROCKVILLE. 
 
 Let ME Furnish Your Home 
 or Any Fart of it. 
 
 Lettering done with pneumatic tools 
 
 We do all kinds of cemetery work 
 
 AS YEARS 
 ROLL ON 
 
 The memorial which should mark 
 the resting place of some beloved ..^J 
 one is yet to be erected. 
 
 Why delay longer, we can furnish you with an appropriate monument or headstone in 
 any kind of granite or marble. 
 
 C. B. RAU, 
 
 87 Union Street, 
 
 ROCKVILLE 
 
 CHAS. R. RAU, 
 
 87 UNION STREET, 
 
 CONTRACTOR AND BUILDlvR 
 OK ALL KINDS OF 
 
 STONE AND CEMENT WORK. ARTIFICIAL 
 STONE AND SIDEWALK WORK A SPECIALTY 
 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
WAFFLK" TAVEin. FIKST HOTEL IN THE TOV.N OK VEHNON. I'.l III i'ltlUK TO THE 
 KEVOLl'lIOX. NOW 0«>ED A>D 0( ( IPIEH IfV MU. AND 
 MRS. L. R. SPARROW. 
 
 KlXf; STUJF HOrSE. FAirorS old TAVEKN MIIEliE MAIMIITS LAFAYETTE STOl'I'EK. 
 VLSO KVMEL WEUSTEU AM) HEM!V (LAY. I5ITLT 1\ IS20. NOW 
 LSED AS TOWN FARM. 
 
 U 
 
OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 Established 1877 Incorporated 1905 
 
 Kuhnly Plumbing & Heating Co. 
 
 Plumbing and Heating Contractors. 
 
 Copper aud C.ah'ani/.ed Cornices, Metal Ceilings, vSiding and Roofing. 
 Hstiniates ami Plans Cheerfully l''urnished. 
 
 Stoves, Ranges aud Kitchen Furnishings, Refrigerators, Oil Stoves, Etc. 
 
 Brass aud Iron Valves. Pii^e for Steam, Water and Gas. 
 
 All Work Guaranteed First Class at Bottom Prices. 
 
 We Solicit Your Patronage. 
 
 S^Co. 9 WEST MAIN STREET, ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 OSWALD SAENGER v 
 
 FANCY GROCERIES 
 FLOUR and PROVISIONS 
 
 TOBACCO AND CIGARS. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES 
 
 IN SEASON. 
 
 40 WARD STREET, ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 Teleptione Call lOQ-,3 
 
VERNON -ROCK VI LLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 57 
 
 WILLIAM B. SPRAGUE, 
 Sheriff of Tolland County. 
 
 Hon. William B. Sprague of Andover, who wa.s ap])oiiitc(l Shoriff of Tnlhiiiil 
 County by Governor \\'oodruff, to succeed the late Aniasa P. Dickinson, is oik- 
 of Tolland County's best known and most highl}'' esteemed citizens. He has been 
 prominent in .republican politics for a great many 3'ears and enjoys a wide 
 acquaintance all through the state. He has filled several important positions and 
 has shown marked ability. He is a man of sterling integrity, and tliat lie will 
 fill the office of Sherifif in a most satisfactory manner is the belief of those wlm 
 know him intimately. 
 
 SheriiT Sprague was born in Andover May 6, 1849. lie was educated in the 
 public schools of that town and the Natchaug' High School of Willimantic. He 
 was a member of the Senate in 1889, a member of the Board of Trustees of the 
 Connecticut Agricultural College in 1890, the first Commissioner of Domestic 
 Animals under the present law, serving from 1897 to 1899, a Deputy Collector of 
 Internal Revenue from 1899 to 1905, and a member of the Republican State Cen- 
 tral Committee since 1900. At the time of his appointment as Sherifif he was 
 filling the position of Superintendent of the Capitol, having been appointed by 
 Comptroller Mitchell and reappointed by Comptroller Bradstreet. 
 
58 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 WE WANT YOU 
 
 m ^ 
 
 TO BUY YOUR SOUVENIR POSTAL 
 CARDS AND SOUVENIRS OF ROCK- 
 VILLE OF US 
 
 Largest and Best Line iu the City. STATIONERY of all 
 kinds and Prices, 20c, 25c, 30c and 35c a pound. BLANK 
 BOOKS, Large Assortment. Fountain Pens, School Supplies, 
 Office Supplies, Post Card Albums, Children's Carriages and 
 Go-Carts. See our line of Copyrighted Fiction, 45c a volume. 
 
 F. A. RANDALL, - 6 Henry Building. 
 
HOMESTEAD OF ELXATHAX GRA>'T. BUILT AKOl I 17 J. (iN. (ij llti ill Ills! 
 
 HOUSES IN KOCKYILLE. FACES UNION SJ Kl 1 1 AM) Si is mil, 
 
 BACK FKOM THE KOAU. 0( ( Ul'IEI) HY JOHN AWEAH 
 
 AND FAMILY. 1{E( ENTLY PUKCHASED 
 
 BY S. T. NOBLE. 
 
 HOMFSTEVD OF OZIVS GRANT. BUILT IN 1S(I» 0\ THE SITE OF THE OIiI(;iNVL LOG 
 
 CABIN. OWNED AND OdH'IKD BY N. H. GI5AM. IN WllOSb I'OS- 
 
 ..'i.^k.'wwtv lu 'I'lll.' niMCIVU. DKFD. 
 
60 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 THE ROCKVILLE. 
 
 ^ 
 
 M. H. McPHERSON, Prop. 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 ^5 :5i$*f$$*i$**SS*i$*g^ 
 
 Modern I 
 
 Improvements. ${J 
 
 Luisme * 
 
 Excellent. * 
 
 l> w 
 
 Dinner from 12 M. to 1^ P. M. 
 
 Sundav Dinner a Specialty, from 1 to 2 P. M. 
 
 Convenient to Interurban and All Trolley Lines. 
 
 The New England Decorating Co, 
 
 i( Decorators for Fairs, Balls, Festi\.als, ^|^ 
 ^1^ and Public Celebrations. ^^1^ 
 
 WE HAVE THE DECORATING CONTRACT FOR THE 
 
 ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL. 
 Conrad G. Koehlert, rockville, conn. 
 
 Proprietor. 
 
THE «TWI>" MILLS. FIKST WOOLE> MILLS EHEI TL1> IX 1{(K KVILLK. 
 TWO SETS OF NARROW ( VKI)S AM) HAM) LOOMS. 
 
 (0\TAI>EI) 
 
 W E 
 W B 
 
 E IS 
 
 IHI 
 
 PS ii %^ «»!»: Ifsif:!' 3:*'": 
 
 OLD ROCK FACTORY. WHICH WAS FIRST WOOLEN FACTORY OF ANY SIZE HITLI I> 
 ROCKVILLE. STILL STAXDI>G. 
 
62 
 
 OFFICIAL PROnRAM— OLD HOME WEEK 
 
 c m 
 
 . o 
 u ca 
 
 u. = 
 
 a S 
 
 \VK l{i:rUI! KVKUYTIIIX; !UT BHOKKN 
 
 lIKAlfTS. 
 Awiiiiitts Made to Order; Carriimcs 'rriiiinictl 
 and Furniture Ipliolstered; Picture Franiini;-. 
 rniltrcilas Itej)aired and Kecovered; Also 
 Orders lal»en f(ir Crayon or Oil Tortrait En- 
 largements. (Kverjtliin!;' at a Keasoualtle 
 Priee.) (U}\V. IN AM» SKE VS. 
 THOKNE A; EAYMAX, 
 Rockvilk', Conn. 
 
 Snipsic Lake Grove, 
 
 PLEASURE RESORT. 
 
 TEX Ml.MTES FISOM l!Ot KVILLE. 
 FI>E,ST LAKE l.\ NEW EXiLAM). 
 
 'I'hree Fast Stejini Lannelies. l{o« Boats, 
 
 Merrj-(So-l{oiind. Tables For Pienics 
 Coiieert and Shore Dinner Every Sunday. 
 CAPT. A. T. THOMPSON, Prop. 
 
VIEW OF li;Mi:i! (H ( I i 
 
 V. 1 \(; rENTKAL PARK. PAHK l'LA( K AM> KAST MAIN 
 STREET. 
 
 FIRST PUBLIC HOUSE ERECTKD IN i;o( KMl I I ri.'nl'l i;. Kl II. T I\ IsCi BY >VII. 
 
 LIAM T. COGSWELL, 0\ SIM. Oimi; rillMM i;(MK\II.I.E IIOISE. 
 
 OWNED AM) OCCUPIED HV THE LATE MUUl. KIEL I 0|{ 
 
 YEARS, NOW DOING SERVICE AS HOTEL 
 
 IN ELLIXJTON. 
 
64 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 \V. B. MARTIN 
 
 The Largest 
 
 COAL DEALER 
 
 in Tolland County. 
 
 WOOD KINDLING, 
 BALED SHAVINGS, 
 FERTILIZERS, SANT>, 
 GRA VEL, CEMENT, ETC. 
 
 f 
 
 TEAMING 
 
 and 
 
 FURNITURE MOVING. 
 
 Office and Yard, - 40 Vernon Ave., Rock\ ille. 
 
 ORDERS RECKIVKI) AT 
 
 WILSON'S PHAR\L\CY, THE FITCH BLOCK. 
 
 DOANE'S DEPARTMENT STORE 
 
 8 Village Street, Corner Union, Rockville, Conn. 
 
 GROCERIES, 
 TfRY GOODS, 
 
 i^COTIOi^cs, 
 
 FIREWORKS, 
 
 ICE CREAM SODA, 
 
 'DRUGS, 
 
 TIN, WOOD and 
 
 ENAMEL WARE. 
 
 Decorations for Centennial Week 
 
 Bunting, Flags, Festooning, Etc. 
 All at Cut Prices. 
 
 Ice Cream Soda and College Ices 
 
 All Syrups and Cream Our Own Manufacture. 
 Special Care in Preparation. 
 
 Fireworks. 
 
 For Years Headquarters for These Goods. 
 
 Largest Assortment, Best Goods, Lowest Prices. 
 
 The Shopping Center of Tolland Count>' 
 
FIRST CHURCH ERECTED IN TOWN OF VERNON. 
 
 (From pen and ink drawint,- by Special Artist from description furnished by AUyn 
 Stanley Kellogg in Historical Address on "The Church of Christ, Vernon Ct.) 
 The Ecclesiastical Society of North Bolton was formed m 1/60 The ter- 
 ritory of this society was the same as the present Town of Vernon, ihe church 
 records contain no account of the formation of the church, except a smgle line, 
 written by Deacon Francis King, as late as 1818, "The church in Vcnimi was 
 formed October, 1762." This church was known as the Second Church of Ch us 
 in Bolton," until the Town of Vernon was incorporated, in October, 1808, when 
 the Church and the Society took the name of the town Ihe meeting house was 
 raised on the 6th of May, 1762, and was first used for divine worship on the _0t 
 of Tune following. The meeting house was 46-36 feet with 22-foot pos s. 1 u 
 buid nVcommittee that had charge of the l)uilding of the church consisted o John 
 Spi an David Allis and Seth King. The meeting hou.se stood on lie op of 
 a hill abo ,t half a mile east of the present meeting house at Vernon Cent. e. 1 as 
 of p evad ng style of architecture for country churches-a plain four-sued build- 
 ho- without a steeple The interior of the house was arranged after the almo.^t 
 ni;.ers'l asSioi , w th nearly square pews having, straight-backed seat.s, wUh 
 gallerks on three sides, and, high above the stairs in each front corner, a negm 
 
 '^'^' On the 29th of March. 1762. it was voted "To call Mr. Ebenezer Kellogg 
 upon^ ii^n^m o^ J^ fc. .Ulen^. A.cr a tn^ of ^- ,nont...^on thc^fi.. 
 of July, It was Voted to call Mn ^'^^' f ^J*;/^ ^^-^^^^^ ^ ,^larv. .S5 pounds the first 
 
 a salary of 60 pounds the hrst year, to increase l^Y ^ P^^JJ/ ^b^^^zer Kcllogg's 
 70 POunds^ One nionth later It wa.sv^^^ ,,. 
 
 S-s'ife Af?efth; atption of the federal currency the sum was exprcsse.l by 
 $233.33, instead of 70 pounds. 
 
66 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 An Open Letter to the Public! 
 
 The vSurest Sign of the Superior Oiiality, Inside and (_)ut of the 
 
 JANSSEN PIANO 
 
 Is that it has won its way because of 
 
 Real Merit 
 
 and is talked about and recommended by people who know a good Piano. 
 Real success only follows real value. I have worked for just one thing 
 
 Reputation 
 
 Queer thing this reputation ! It takes work, brains, backbone to resist tempta- 
 tion to cheapen, personal economy, continuous unremitting plugging, and 
 honesty. Once you get it, it's priceless — and it makes you feelgood to know that 
 others know and appreciate. The 
 
 Janssen 
 
 Piano is respected by the entire trade. It is made that way. 
 
 GEORGE PETER WENDHEISER BEN. H. JANSSEN, Mfrs., 
 
 Sole Agent for Rockville and Vicinity ji 1881-1907 Park Avenue, New York 
 
 A Handsome Booklet and sheet of Popular Music Free for the Asking. 
 
 
 
 
 
 TALCOTT BROTHERS, 
 
 WOOLEN MANUFACTURERS. 
 TALCOTTVILLE, - - CONN. 
 
 ORCiANIZKD lS-|(i. 
 
 
 
 
 
VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 67 
 
 VERNON 
 CENTER 
 
 CONGREGATIONAL 
 CHURCH. 
 
 I'arish formed by name of North liol- 
 ton in 1760. Church organized a.s the 
 Second Church of Christ in Bolton, 1762. 
 When the town of Vernon was incorpo- 
 rated, in 1808, Church and Society took 
 the name of the town. 
 
 The first house of worship, one-half 
 mile east of the present buiUHng', was 
 erected in 1762; present building erect_ed 
 in 1826, thoroughly remodeled in 1851, 
 when the portico and spire were added. 
 The spire was taken down in 1896. 
 
 riie church has had 24 pastors. The 
 tirst. Rev. Ebcnezer Kellogg, served the 
 church 5.5 years. Among his descendants 
 may be mentioned a grandson, Rev. Ebe- 
 nezer Kellogg, for 30 years a professor 
 in Williams college; Rev. Martyn Kel- 
 logg, president of the l^nivcrsity of Cali- 
 fornia, and now living; Mrs. Harriet Kel- 
 logg Ma.xwell of Rockville. The records 
 of the church arc rich in other honored 
 names, which there is not space to men- 
 tion here. 
 
68 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD FIOjME WEEK. 
 
 
 The Rock Manufacturing Company. 
 
 ORGANIZED IX 1821. . . . 
 INCORPORATED IN )SW. 
 
 FREDERICK SWINDELLS, President. 
 
 A. T. BISSELL, Secretary and Treasurer. 
 
 FREDERICK W. SWINDELLS, Superiuteudent. 
 
VERNON -ROCKVILI.E CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 PARK PLACE AND PARK STREET ABOUT 1870. 
 Site of Present Modern Henry Building, Showing First Congregational Church of 
 
 Rockville. 
 
 IN I T 
 
 m 
 
 Second Congregational Church of Rock- 
 ville, formed in 1849. Stood on the 
 site of the present Union Church. 
 Destroyed by fire in 1888. Old Pem- 
 ber store is seen at the left in illus- 
 tration. Second building. 
 
 Old Rockville National Bank In marked 
 contrast with present modern build- 
 ing. An addition to the Bank build- 
 ingon the north side contained the 
 office of Town Clerk during the ad- 
 ministration of the late Gelon W. 
 West. 
 
70 
 
 OFFICIAL rROGRA^I— OLD HOML WEEK. 
 
 CHAS. BACKOFEN, 
 
 Manufacturer of the well known 
 
 Repeater Cigar 
 
 AND OTHER LEADING BRANDS. 
 
 SOLD EVERYWHERE. 
 
 Largest Assortment of Tobacco and Pipes. 
 
 THE LEADING CIGAR STORE, 
 
 7f) UNION STREET, ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 V^ou will not get disappointed by calling on us during the Celebration for 
 -'- something to refresh you in the eating and drinking line. We will as 
 usual, be prepared to accommodate you all. 
 
 PAUL FLEISCHER, 
 
 Prop, of LINCK'S HALL 
 
 62 VILLAGE STREET. The Home of Unions, Lodges and Societies. 
 
 .asMS^:^1&i^i<^ 
 
 JOSEF AUGSTEN, 
 
 Rock\ille's Fashionable 
 
 ^ Ladi es^ Ta ilor. 
 
 3g Ward Sfreef. 
 
 Telephone l();)-4. 
 
VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 71 
 
 Rev. C. E. McKinley. Pastor. 
 
 UNION CONGREGATIONAL 
 CHURCH 
 
 The First Congregational Chnrfli in 
 Rockville was formed in 18vV. ,i.t of its 
 40 nicmhers coming from the \'crnon 
 Center church. In 12 years another 
 church was needed in the growing vil- 
 lage and the Second Congregational 
 Church was formed in 1849. For 40 years 
 these churches worked side by^ side; but 
 in 1888 the building of the Second Church 
 was destroyed by fire and the town pur- 
 chased the site of the hirst Church for 
 the Memorial Town Hall. As there were 
 then eight churches in the place, the Con- 
 gregationalists voted to unite their forces, 
 and the Union Congregational Church 
 
 was formed .Vug. 7, 1888. The corner 
 stone of the new building was laid in 
 188'^ and the church dedicated Sept. 18, 
 1890. The first pastor was the Rev. 
 James Dingwell, who served until 1895. 
 The present pastor, Rev. Charles E. Mc- 
 Kinley-, has l)een with the church since 
 Septcniber, 1896. 
 
 Connected with the church are the 
 Ma.xwell Free Reading Rooms, opened in 
 1894. The rooms are open forenoon, af- 
 ternoon and evening, and the large and 
 choice selection of daily and periodical 
 ])ublications is constantly used by a large 
 number of readers. 
 
OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 Bm EVENT THE ROCKVILLE FAIR 
 
 THE LEADING FAIR OF EASTERN CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Grander and Greater than Ever Before. Grounds Enlarged and Entirely 
 Made Over. Plenty of Room and a Picturesque and Beautiful Outlook. 
 
 A New Half Mile Track Pronounced by F^xpert Judges to be as good as 
 any in New England. 
 
 Interurban Cars Run Direct to Gate of Fair Grounds. One Hour's Trip 
 from Hartford Without Change of Cars. Springfield and Stafford Springs 
 and all Surrounding Towns Will Find Trolley Facilities Unexcelled. 
 
 MORE ATTRACTIONS, GREATER RACES, LARGER PURSES, 
 AND MORE NOVEL FEATURES THAN EVER BEFORE. 
 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 September 22, 23 and 24, 1908. 
 
 For Premium List and Other Information, Address, F'RED. J. COOLEY, Secretary 
 
 High-Grade Heating COAL TALK. 
 
 Q^y^ For A Truly Square and 
 )^^y^ Honest Deal in COAL 
 
 You Should Not Forget to go to 
 
 HENRY QEBHARDT, 
 
 SPRING STREET, Near Rau Street Bridge, 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 HE CAN SUIT YOU— REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR COAL TASTE 
 MAY BE— AND YOU WILL FIND HIS SERVICE THE BEST. ASK 
 GEPHARDT EARLY TO SEND YOU HIS COAL. CALL ON TELEPHONE 
 
VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 73 
 
 Rev. Luke Fitzsimons, Pastor. 
 
 ST. BERNARD'S CHURCH 
 
 ST. JOHN S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 
 
 Rev. J. F. George, Pastor. 
 
OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 
 _.. Established 
 
 
 WH^ I'^^^'J 
 
 - All sizes of 
 
 -s^Sp" • Crayon and 
 
 1 Watercol- 
 
 ■jE^ 1 ors will be 
 
 ■ .Ik, i promptly 
 
 
 ilW ^ made and 
 
 
 s^ ' guaranteed. 
 
 
 ^^ i Frames for 
 
 
 ^^^^ same in lat- 
 
 
 ^^^Hl styles 
 
 
 ^^^^^^^ff always on 
 
 ^^ 
 
 JOHN 
 
 OSWALD. 
 
 PHOTOGRAPHER. \ 
 
 STUDIO. 20 
 
 THOMPSON STREET. 
 
 ROCKVILLE. CONN. 
 
 ^OR A COOL AND 
 
 REFRESHING DRINK OF 
 
 LAGER. ALES, 
 WINES. LIQUORS. 
 
 ALSO CHOICE BRANDS OF 
 
 CIGARS 
 
 C/\LL ON 
 
 C>()rnellius Dullak, 
 
 2!) VILLAGE STREET. 
 
 Union Street 
 BAKERY. 
 
 A. E. UNDERWOOD, 
 
 Proprietor. 
 
 First-Class Bakery (ioods. Home 
 Made Cooking a Specialty. Our 
 Cakes and Pies satisfy. They are 
 the best that can be made. Our 
 trade is constantly increasing. 
 There's a reason for it. Give Us 
 a Call. 
 
 A. E. Underwood, 
 
 4u UNION strf:et. 
 
 Mrs. Se\mour's Old Stand. 
 
 P. Oswald Eckhardt, 
 
 CHOICE MEATS 
 and PROVISIONS. 
 
 6 WEST STREET, 
 ROCKVILLE, - CONN. 
 
 TlCLKl'HONK 12C-4. 
 
VERXON-ROCKVILLE CEXTEXXIAL CELEBRATIOX. 
 
 75 
 
 Rev. W. S. Maclntire. Pastor. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 
 
 Rev. G. D. Gould, Pastor. 
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH 
 
76 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 R©eKYILLE 
 GARAGE e©. 
 
 ¥ 
 
 No. 8 Sc/icol Street. 
 
 STORAGE, GASOLINE, OILS, 
 SUNDRIES. 
 
 REPAIRING <iA SPECIALTY. 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 
 
 
 >, 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 
 cr> 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 rD 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 3 
 
 .2 
 
 / 4 
 
 i-n 
 
 O 
 
 f>^^:^^ 
 
 O 
 
 < 
 
 
 
 _i3 
 
 ;i? 
 
 U 
 
 'J-j 
 
 ii.2i?i!ii 
 
 2 
 
 cH 
 
 
 Turn Hall Theatre, 
 
 John H. Frieze — John H. \osi, Mgrs. 
 
 
 SEASON 1908—1909. 
 
 
 ROCKVILLE, - CONN. 
 
 Stafford Springs Min- 
 
 eral Water Company 
 
 The oldest, purest, best natural 
 mineral water in the United States. 
 Nature's own brew. Uneqalled for 
 every use as table water. Unex- 
 celled carbonated fresh from the 
 spring. All our soda water made 
 from this mineral water: : : 
 
 SfcitTorcl Springs 
 /Wincicil Wcilei^ Co., 
 
 Stafford Springs, Conn. 
 
 Edward M. Dowling. Distributor, 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
VERNON- ROCK VI LI.K CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 WEST MAIN STREET GERMAN 
 CHURCH 
 
 Rev. G. F. Hartwig, Pastor. 
 
 Rev. Von Schenk, Pastor. 
 
 PROSPECT STREET GERMAN 
 CHURCH 
 
OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 HEADQUARTERS FOR 
 
 CHOICE GROCERIES. 
 
 S\^10ST COMPREHENSIVE AND COMPLETE 
 STOCK OF ANY STORE IN TOLLAND COUNTY. 
 
 OUR SPECIALTV. 
 
 FARRENKOPF'S BEST XXXX FLOUR 
 STANDS IN A CLASS 'BY ITSELF. ^ 
 
 delicious Coffee. Full Line of Canned Goods. Best Va- 
 rie/y of Fruit in the City. Fresh Vegetables. If You Want 
 What You Want When You Want It ^ ^ ^ 
 
 Try Farrenkopf, 30 Union Street, Tel. 91-5. 
 
 nrO GET GOOD THINGS 
 ' TO EAT COME TO 
 
 BingenKeimer, 
 
 The City Cash Market. 
 
 "Dealer in SVIeats, Fish, Clams, 
 Oysters and Vegetables. Lob- 
 sters a specialty. Send your 
 children if you can't come your- 
 self: : : : : : 
 
 : 6 MARKET STREET: : 
 
 TELEPH ONE 46-2 = 
 
 The Silcox Clothmg Co., 
 
 (INCORPORATED.) 
 
 Head -to -Foot 
 
 OUTFITTERS. 
 
 Men's, Boys' and Children's 
 Clothing and Furnisliings, 
 Hats and Shoes and Rubber 
 Footwear : : , : : 
 
 * 
 
 S Park PhK-e, Henry Bldg. 
 ROCKVILLE, - CONN. 
 
VERNON - ROCKVILT.E CENTENNIAL CELEP.RATION. 
 
 79 
 
 ST. JOSEPH'S POLISH CHURCH. CORNER UNION AND 
 WEST STREETS. 
 
 
 /'. -1 vi. 
 
 
 
 
 W'^l- 
 
 \U' 
 
 
 ;.* 
 
 Si (. 
 
 vi,, ' 
 
 
 
 '■fs^.'^X-^ V 
 
 / '' f^y 
 
 
 ■**^!!y|^ 
 
 ^^3l.\ 
 
 K- jrti- 
 
 
 ■-^^^ 
 
 ^^*^''i 
 
 i/Lss--' 
 
 
 
 ^3 
 
 fei 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 ^Pfi 
 
 rfF 
 
 t 
 
 
 \.^ 
 
 
 (Ill- - : 
 
 
 mrn^. 
 
 '*'t^ 
 
 yiA|.".xfeii 
 
 
 House where woolen manufacturing was first started in town of Vernon. The pioneers 
 were Delano Abbott and Ebenezer Nash. House is located a little east of Northwest school 
 house and is now occupied by James Campbell. In company with Francis McLean, Messrs. 
 Abbott and Nash came to Rockville and built the "Twin Mills." From this modest beginning 
 sprang the giant woolen industries of Rockville. 
 
so 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 The Best DRUG STORE 
 
 Is flic (iiic fliiit lies! serves its Ciis- 
 (oiiiers. (hir eoiistiiiit Jiiiii is (i> fiivc 
 (•\erj ciisldiiKT the l)esf iiossilile ser- 
 >iee liest in (iiiiility <(t' lioixls, liest in 
 iittcntion, liest in riiiirniiicenticiil 
 sliill. Iic^t in oerytliinu' tii:it innlies 
 tlie most siitisfactory kind of :i Itruu' 
 Stoi-e. Our stciKlilj increasinn pntron- 
 iiuc is tile liest ei idenre tfiiit «e are 
 sncceediiitf in uiving' file liesf l>nm' 
 Sl<ire ser\ iee. 
 
 •J^ 
 
 Let US be Your Prescription Druggists. 
 
 We occupy the tiiiique distinction of being- the only DRl'C, vST()RI{ in 
 Tolland County where none but a REGISTERED PHARMACIST is 
 allowed to compound any Prescription intrusted to us. 
 
 FRED WOODHALL, i^Ruggist and apothecary. 
 
 EEE^siE^EEEE^^E^^^^^^^^E^E^ 30 PARK PLACE, Rockville, Ct. 
 
 The Rockville Milling Company 
 
 \\liu1es,Tlf and Rclail Dealer.s in 
 
 Flour, Grain, 
 Meal and 
 Feed. 
 
 I lay and Straw, 
 
 Potdtrv I'oods and 
 
 Supplies. 
 
 Grass Seed, Salt, iS:c. 
 
 Custom 
 Grinding 
 
 Mill Agents for Pillshurv's Best ) -r^w y-^ t Tr% r^ 
 Washburn's Best FLOURS 
 Pride of Elvsian i 
 
 H. C\ C'lMMINC;S. 1*R(>1>„ l^OCKVII.I.l-:. 
 
VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEIlRATrON. 
 
 81 
 
 TER\0\. 
 
 (By Hans n. .lulow.) 
 
 Where, in the old Colonial days, 
 
 The foot-ti-ail crossed a rugged crest: 
 Whence travelers, through the distant haze 
 Of eve, could see the fading rays— 
 
 The golden sunset to the west: 
 There lay a wooded countryside. 
 
 Of stately hill and cliarniing vale: 
 It was by Nature occupied, 
 
 The haunt of beaver, fox and (]uail. 
 
 It was the Indians' hunting-ground: 
 
 They came with arrow and with bow. 
 For far and wide was it renowned, 
 As in abundance there were found 
 
 The luscious partridge and the roe. 
 They pitched their wigwams roundabout. 
 
 Within its many sheltered nooks: 
 They sought the bass, the eels and trout. 
 
 Within its sparkling lakes and brooks. 
 
 However, with the passing years. 
 
 The settlers came. They first cleared land 
 For raising corn — the priceless ears 
 That long have been, to pioneers, 
 
 The staff of life, the saving hand. 
 And of the trees that they had felled. 
 
 They builded cabins, plain in form, 
 Yet fitting, for they well repelled 
 
 The summer's rain and winter's storm. 
 
 These men lived, not by warfare's spoil; 
 
 They sacked no cities, burned no homes: 
 But gathered from the virgin soil 
 Their needs of life by patient toil, 
 
 As bees that build the honeycombs. 
 Ah! is it to be wondered, then. 
 
 If such a region fares so well; 
 If fortune smiles upon such men; 
 
 If virtue, thrift, among them dwell? 
 
 Ere many times, with summer's wane. 
 
 The corn had ripened in the shock. 
 There were fields, too, of other grain; 
 While here and there in rail-fenced lane. 
 
 At nightfall, gathered herd and flock. 
 There was the flax field's waving blue. 
 
 The orchard, meadow, fair to see. 
 The garden neat, where flowers grew, 
 
 And vegetables luxuriantly. 
 
 The cabins rude had given way 
 To models of the joiners' skill; 
 
 There were the barns for grain and hay, 
 .\nd stables for the herds to sta.v, 
 
 When roared the winter's winds so shrill. 
 For these had Nature given well — 
 
 The forests of past centuries; 
 The rivulet in shaded dell. 
 
 To turn the mill to saw the trees. 
 
 No longer did the trail suffice. 
 
 As when the Indian stalked the deer; 
 For e'er, with civilization's rise. 
 Has come the need of closer ties, 
 
 The need of widening travel's sphere. 
 So there were bridges, roads, as best 
 
 To form a network midst the farms, 
 A turnpike crossed the rugged crest. 
 
 So beauteous with the sunset's charms. 
 
 The men who settled in this place 
 
 Obeyed, with others, two commands: 
 They toiled six days at proper pace. 
 And. on the seventh, sought the grace 
 
 Of God, and eased their tired hands. 
 They heard the sermon, bowed to pray. 
 
 And sang the hymns so sweet and dear; 
 They met their neighbors on this day. 
 
 To change a wor(i of ho])e and cheer. 
 
 .\t the beginning, when but few, 
 
 They worshipped in the distant vills; 
 However, when their numbers grew. 
 They built a church, so good and true, 
 
 -Near where the turninke crossed the hills 
 .Al)out- the church a little plain 
 
 Lay sheltered from the northeast gales; 
 Here houses formed a village chain. 
 
 Here stopped the stage to leave the mails 
 
 .\nd "Vernon" was the chosen name, 
 
 Perhaps from verdant fields close by; 
 
 Perhaps, too, there were some to claim 
 
 From Vernon their ancestors came, — 
 .\ village in old Normandy. 
 
 Hut history no clue affords. 
 ■ There is no written page to last; 
 
 Traditions, memories, are the cords. 
 That bind the present to the past. 
 
 Complete was the community; 
 
 It now had all that was required. 
 So 'twould be best it it would be 
 Set separate by itself — set free. 
 
 And this was what it now desired. 
 Its wish was granted by the men 
 
 Who made the laws upon that time; 
 
82 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 E. F. LINCK, 
 
 DEAI,ER IN 
 
 
 jkn^T Choice 
 
 -rr^ii^' . .>^' ton, 
 
 7?^--^-C- Veal. 
 
 Hams, Vegetables, Etc. 
 
 MAMIFACTIKKK <il- 
 
 Bolognas and Sausages of All Kinds. 
 
 Rockville, 
 
 Conn. 
 
 JOHN HECK, 
 
 Contractor, 
 
 fainting and 
 Paper Hanging 
 
 Qraining and Qlazincj. 
 
 Shop, 106 Prospect St. 
 
 W. H. SILL, 
 
 = DRUGGIST = 
 
 HENRY BUILDING, 
 Cor. Park Place and Park St. 
 ROCKVILLE, - CONN. 
 35 Years in Business. ^^ J- 
 Your Trade Solicited. J- J- 
 
 THE 
 
 Lunch Wagons, 
 
 Every one calls at these for 
 their Lunch on Centennial 
 Week: 
 
 John T. Carroll, 
 
 PROPRIETOR. 
 
VERNON - ROCKVILT.E CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 83 
 
 And so It came about that then 
 
 The town was formed — an act sublime! 
 
 An act sublime! for thus was made 
 
 A new sphere of democracy, — • 
 The fair ideal that has swayed 
 The hearts of men where'er the blade 
 
 And rod, have ruled, of tyranny. 
 'Tis this that now we celebrate, 
 
 Since then a hundred years have passed ; 
 A century of changes great, 
 
 A century of progress vast. 
 
 Since then has Vernon grown apace. 
 
 Not where the village first was planned ; 
 But in the north, where at the base 
 
 Of hills the foaming waters race, 
 
 And turn the wheels at our command. 
 
 For we have found the way to chain 
 And use the forces of the earth; 
 
 Have found the key that yet will gain 
 For every man his due, his worth. 
 
 And when the hand of time has brought 
 
 Still hundred summers to these hills; 
 When, too, the God in man has wrought 
 A righteous world, in deed and thought,— 
 
 When all has passed though His mills: 
 Then will again the aged relate 
 
 The thrilling story of their youth — • 
 How Vernon then had cast its weight 
 
 Into the scales for light and truth. 
 
 nil. uLi> &i«»m: mill. 
 
84 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HO:\IE WEEK. 
 
 Smoke the Famous 
 
 WINTHROP 
 
 10c CIGAR. 
 
 Miiiiiifactiirod lij 
 
 Joseph Whitcomb & Co. 
 
 258 Main St., Springfield, Mass. 
 
 Next door to Nelson Theatre. 
 
 Cigar Manufacturers 
 and Tobacconists. 
 
 WHOLESALE A>D KETAIL DEALERS IX 
 
 ALL GRADES OF 
 
 CIGARS, TOBACCOS, PIPES AXD 
 
 SMOKERS' SUPPLIES. 
 
 Established 18'>2. 
 
 WHILE AT THE CE>TE>.MAL. YOC GO 
 STROLLING THROUGH THE .IIIDAVAY. 
 SEEING THE SIGHTS. DOXT FORGET 
 TO TAKE A HIKE DOWX THE PIKE TO 
 
 Lehrmitt's Cafe, 
 
 Dealer in 
 
 Lager, Ales, Wines, 
 Liquors, 
 
 CIGARS AND TOBACCOS. 
 
 "A giiiss is good and a lass is good, 
 Xo matter ivliat kind of weatlifr; 
 A smoke is good and the world seems li-ood 
 Wlieii ive are good fellows togetlier." 
 
 COR. WARD AND UNION STS., 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 OTTO G. LEHRMITT, Prop. 
 
 WITH THE OPEMKG OF THE 
 STAFFORD TROLLEY LIXE, THE 
 "KINGSBURY AYEXUE GREEN- 
 HOUSES" WILL BE THE FU- 
 TURE STOPPING PLACE FOR 
 THE FLOWER LOVINtJ PUBLIC. 
 
 STAUDT, 
 
 The Florist. . . 
 
 TISITORS 
 ARE 
 
 ALWAYS 
 WELCOME 
 
 PHONE CONNECTIONS 
 
 G. KRAUSE, 
 
 PROPRIETOR, 
 
 New York Bakery 
 
 ( ARRY A FIRST CLASS LINE OF GOODS 
 
 SUCH AS BREAD, CAKE AND 
 
 PASTRY OF EVERY 
 
 DESCRIPTION. 
 
 WEDDING PARTIES, ETC. SUPPLIED AT 
 SHORT NOTICE. 
 
 40 PROvSPECT STREET, 
 ROCKVILLE, . - CONN. 
 
VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAI. CEEERRATION. 
 
 85 
 
 fm^Twwjfwy'^.'^^^''^' 
 
 !{(»( K'tli.ii: liit.il SCHOOL, COUJiER OF PARK AXP SCHOOL STREETS. I'liOI. il. it. 
 .VARSH PRIXIl'AL. 
 
 PROF. H. B. MARSH, Principal. 
 
8G 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 Telephone 17-3. 
 
 MAX C. WEIGEL, 
 
 Dealer in 
 
 Provisions, 
 
 Fresh and Salt Meats, 
 
 Poultry, Lard, Etc. 
 
 Also Manufacturer of 
 
 ALL KINDS OF SAUSAGES. 
 
 120 West Main Street, 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 We 
 
 Launder 
 
 Other 
 
 Things 
 
 'besides Shir/s, Collars and 
 Cuffs, and do f/jcm well, too. 
 zAsh any one who I^as given us 
 work to do. We take special 
 pains with Shirt Waists, Cur- 
 tains, Spreads, Etc. 
 
 Superior Laundry, 
 
 Phone 14 5-3- 
 
 Opera House Block, 
 
 RockviUe, Conn. 
 
 M. Zunder & Sons, 
 
 Importers and Wholesalers of 
 
 WINES AND LIUUORS, 
 
 Delicacies and Tobaccos. 
 
 253, 255, 257 State Street, 
 New Haven, Conn. 
 
 
 L. Bissell &. Son, 
 
 Insurance. 
 
 rvockville, 
 
 Connecticut. 
 
 
VERNON - RQCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 87 
 
 AUTOMOBILE HILL CLIMBING 
 CONTEST. 
 Big Event to Be Held on Tuesday After- 
 noon, June 30, of Centennial Week. 
 One of the big events of the Centen- 
 nial Celebration will be the Automobile 
 Hill Climbing Contest, which will be held 
 on Tuesday afternoon, June 30, under the 
 auspices of the Automobile Club of Rock- 
 ville, of which George E. Sykes is Presi- 
 dent. It promises to be one of the lead- 
 ing hill-climbing contests held in recent 
 
 George E. Sykes, 
 
 President Rockxille Automobile Club. 
 
 years, and a large number of entries has 
 already been received. There will be nine 
 events and the first prize in each event 
 will be a silver cup. The climb will start 
 from Martin's coal yard, on New England 
 hill. The rules are as follows: 
 
 1. The contest will be run in strict 
 accordance with the rules of the Racing 
 Board of the American Automobile Asso- 
 ciation. 
 
 2. The entry fee shall be $5 for each 
 event, which fee will be returned to the 
 entrant upon the starting of his car in 
 
 the event for which it is entered. The 
 fee must accompany the entry. 
 
 3. The first prize in each event will 
 be a silver cup. No second prizes will 
 be awarded, but a certificate showing 
 position and time will be given if desired. 
 
 4. In all stock events the car must 
 be exactly as per manufacturers' cata- 
 logue specifications and must be equipped 
 with regular body, guards, muffler 
 (which, however, can be open while run- 
 ning), lamps and horns. 
 
 5 The contest will be started prompt- 
 ly at 2 p. m., from Martin s coal yard, on 
 New England hill. The entry fee of any 
 contestant who is not ready to start on 
 time shall be forfeited. 
 
 6. The committee reserves the right 
 to reject any entry without giving a rea- 
 son therefor. 
 
 7. In event of rain the contest may 
 be postponed one week at the discretion 
 of the committee. 
 
 8. Each entrant shall hold the Auto- 
 mobile Club of Rockville harmless and 
 indemnify it against all loss or damage 
 resulting directly or indirectly from or 
 growing out of the operation of, manage- 
 ment or control of car entered by him. 
 All suits of a civil or penal character of 
 any kind whatsoever, arising from com- 
 petition in this test must be borne and 
 resulting judgment satisfied by the com- 
 petitor responsible for the action. 
 
 The events are as follows : — 
 
 Event No. 1 — Gasolene Stock Cars sell- 
 ing for $850 and under. 
 
 Event No. 2 — (jasolene Stock Cars sell- 
 ing for $851 to $1250. 
 
 Event No. 3 — Gasolene Stock Cars sell- 
 ing for $1251 to $2000. 
 
 Event No. 4 — (iasolene Stock Cars sell- 
 ing for $2001 to $3000. 
 
 Event No. 5 — ( iasolene Stock Cars sell- 
 ing for $3001 to $4000. 
 
 Event No. 6 — Free For All Gasolene 
 Stock Cars. 
 
 Event No. 7 — Free For All Steam Cars. 
 
 Event No. 8 — Open for Gasolene Cars. 
 
 Event No. 9 — Limited to Cars owned in 
 Tolland County. 
 
88 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 ^s^, 
 
 The Singing Society Liedertafel 
 
 Of Rockville, 
 
 Was organized in November, 1876. The aim of the society was to 
 advance the love of good music, furnish a strong male chorus 
 and uphold good fellowship. Its first meeting was held in 
 Pfeifer's Hall, on Main street. Sixteen men were admitted at 
 that meeting as Charter Members, and thus the foundation was 
 laid of the present splendid Society, which now numbers 120; 
 and is composed of the most prominent German Citizens of 
 Rockville. 
 
 Many concerts were given by the Liedertafel. which always proved successful and 
 were largely patronized. The first concert was held in the old Rockville House "in 1878. 
 
 In 1881 a fine silk flag was dedicated at one of the concerts, in which Singing Societies 
 from Hartfor'd and Broad Brook ably assisted. 
 
 In November, 1901, the Society celebrated its 2.5th anniversary, and it received valuable 
 presents from many Singing Societies of this State. 
 
 The Liedertafel was incorporated in 1903. The headquarters of the Society is at 
 Linck's hall, where the monthly meetings and weekly rehearsals have been held since 1893. 
 
 The Liedertafel is a branch of the Connecticut State Singers' League, which holds 
 Singing contests every two years in different cities of the State. The next contest in which 
 the Liedertafel will take part will be held in Meriden, June 15th, 1908. 
 
 The present vocal instructor is Mr. Carl TJngewitter of Broad Brook. 
 
 O HENRY BUILDING O 
 
 
 
 W. G. BROWN, 
 
 DCAI KR IN 
 
 DRY GOODS AND NOTIONS. 
 
 A'^"' SELF-REDUCING ' 
 w"" ({ELIErSTRAP 
 
 CtlRSETS-Nemo. Koyal W.. 
 
 Underwear, 
 
 Hosiery, 
 
 Shirt Waists, 
 
 Kid Ciloves, 
 
 Belts, 
 
 Handkerchiefs, 
 
 Collars, 
 
 Combs, 
 
 I'nibrellas, 
 
 Etc., Etc. 
 
 WK GIVE 
 RED 
 
 TRADING 
 ST. \ MI'S. 
 
 W. G. BROWN, 
 
 32 Park Place, 
 
 Rockville. Conn . 
 
VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 89 
 
 FRANCIS McLEAN, 
 
 The Founder of Rockville and One of the 
 
 Town's Earliest Captains of 
 
 Industry. 
 
 ALMIRA NASH SKINNER, 
 
 Wife of Dr. Alden Skinner and Daughter 
 
 of Ebenezer Nash, Vernon's 
 
 First Manufacturer. 
 
 DR. ALDLN SKINNER. 
 One of the Last of the Old-Time Physi- 
 cians of the Town, Father of Town 
 Clerk Skinner. Alden Skinner 
 Camp, S. of v.. Named 
 in His Honor. 
 
90 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 GUSTAV SAENGER, 
 
 BOOT AND SHOEMAKER. 
 Repairing a Specialty, 
 
 Cotner Ward and Union Streets, 
 Rockville, Conn. 
 
 J. T. McKnight, ^ 
 
 CITY ENGINEER. 
 General Engineering and Surveying 
 
 Residence, Ellinj^ton. 
 
 Walter H, Skinner, ^ 
 
 Proprietor of 
 
 PARK STREET STABLES. 
 
 REAR PRESCOTT BLOCK, 
 
 Telephone: Office 4J-3. 
 House 53-4. 
 
 Rockville, Conn. 
 
 Hack, Livery, Boarding: and Feed Stables 
 
 First-CIass Teams for Hire. 
 
 Good Board for Private Teams. 
 
 "^^ 
 
 H M. SWARTKIOUER, 
 
 GRADUATE OPTICIAN. 
 No. 4 Henry Building, Rockville, Conn. 
 
 Oeculists Prescriptions carefully filled and Lenses 
 Ground and Matched at Short Notice. 
 
 A. T. DICKINSON, 
 
 Electrical Contractor. 
 
 __= 
 
 Electric Apparatus. Electric Supplies. 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 T. F. GAR\ AN & CO. 
 
 General Insurance, Real Estate. 
 
 Life Accident and 
 Liability Insurance 
 and Surety Bonds 
 of Every Descrip- 
 tion. 
 
 Fire Insurance on 
 "Dwellings and Con- 
 tents in Reliable Com- 
 panies at Low Rates. 
 
 Office, No. 12 Prescott Block, 
 Rockville Conn. 
 
 Quick Service at the 
 
 City Lunch. 
 
 Fine Coffee. 
 
 Excellent Pastr}'. 
 
 James— CULLEN— Thomas 
 
 Proprietors. 
 3 EXCHANGE BLOCK. 
 
 THE TOWN'S 
 RUG AND CARPET WEAVER 
 
 O. H. MUELLER, 
 
 14 and 16 Morrison St., 
 
 ROCKVILLE, - CONN. 
 
 Ts pretty well rushed with work and he is all 
 the time away behind in filling his orders, but for 
 some reason or other his many customers never 
 are dissatisfied. There Must Be A Good Reason. 
 Our people here, of course, believe in supporting 
 a home industry. That's what made our town. 
 Try Mr. Mueller wheu you want Rugs woven. 
 
VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 i)l 
 
 TOWN OF VERNON INCORPO- 
 RATED. 
 
 The town of Vernon was .set off from 
 the town of Bolton, and by an act of the 
 General As.sembly of the state of Con- 
 necticut held at New Haven on the second 
 Thursday of October, 1808, was incor- 
 porated into a town by itself. The fol- 
 lowing is a true copy of the record : 
 
 "Upon the petition of Oliver King and 
 Saul Alvord, of Bolton, in the county of 
 Tolland, agents for said town of Bolton, 
 in their own names, and in the names and 
 behalf of the rest of the inhabitants of 
 said town of Bolton, — shewing to this 
 assembly that said town is about eleven 
 miles in length from north to south, and 
 from three to five miles in width from 
 east to west, and is divided into two 
 ecclesiastical societies, and that from the 
 situation and circumstances of the inhab- 
 itants of said town, the same ought to be 
 divided into two towns by the society 
 lines ; and that all questions respecting 
 the debts, poor, bridges, and all matters, 
 which might arise in consequence of a 
 division of said town, have been amicably 
 settled and adjusted. Praying for an act 
 of assembly to divide said town as afore- 
 said and to allow each town one repre- 
 sentative only, as by Petition on tile ilated 
 the 3d day of May, A. D. 1808. 
 
 "This petition was brought to tiic 
 General Assembly holden at Hartford in 
 May last, and thence by legal continu- 
 ance, to this Assembly, with an order to 
 advertise notice of the pendency of the 
 same, which order has been complied 
 with and no opposition being made 
 against the prayer of said petition and the 
 facts stated in the same being proved — 
 
 "Resolved. By this Assembly, that the 
 inhabitants living within the limits of the 
 society of North Bolton, in said town of 
 Bolton, be and they hereby are incorpo- 
 rated into and made a town by the name 
 of Vernon ; and that they and their suc- 
 cessors, inhabitants within said limits, 
 are, and shall forever remain a town and 
 body politic with the rights, privileges 
 and immunities to other towns belonging, 
 excepting that they shall elect only one 
 representative to the General Assembly 
 and the lines and limits of said society 
 
 shall be the lines and limits of said town 
 of \'ernon. 
 
 "And it is further resolved, that said 
 town of Vernon shall hold their first town 
 meeting at the meeting house in said \'er- 
 nt)n on the third Monday of November 
 next, at two o'clock in the afternoon, to 
 choose their town officers for the year 
 ensuing; — and said meeting shall be 
 warned by posting a notification to that 
 effect on the sign post in said Vernon ten 
 days before said third Monday of Novem- 
 ber, which notification shall be signed by 
 Oliver King, Esquire, who shall be the 
 moderator of said meeting; and in case 
 the said King shall fail to perform the 
 duty hereby assigned to him, the same 
 may be performed by any other justice of 
 the peace in any town adjoining said 
 town of Vernon — 
 
 "And it is further resolved, that said 
 town of Bolton shall hereafter elect no 
 more than one representative to a ses- 
 sion of the General Assembly. 
 
 "A true copy of Record, examined by 
 "Samuel WyllySj Secretary." 
 
 FREEMEN IN VERNON ONE 
 
 HUNDRED YEARS AGO 
 
 Men Who Had Privilege of the Ballot 
 When Town Was Incorporated. 
 
 It is (juite appropriate that the free- 
 men who comprised the town of Vernon 
 when it was incorporated 100 years ago 
 shoidd be generally known by the citizens 
 of the town of Vernon and ])resent and 
 former residents of the town. There were 
 108 names on the list — somewhat smaller 
 than the list of 1908. There are a num- 
 ber of familiar names on the list, especial- 
 ly to the older residents of the town. The 
 list as compiled from volume 1 of the 
 town records, is as follows : — 
 
 Rev. Ebenezer Kellogg 
 
 John Darte 
 
 Jonathan Smith 
 
 Henjamin Talcott 
 
 Jonathan Chapman 
 
 David Smith 
 
 Ezekiel Olcott 
 
 Elijah Tucker 
 
 Ozias Grant 
 
 Ashael Webster 
 
 Ozias Bissell 
 
92 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 F. J. COOLEY, 
 
 GROCERIES 
 
 AND 
 
 PROVISIONS. 
 
 FLOUR, GRAIN, 
 BALED HAY AND STRAW 
 
 A SPECIALTY OF 
 
 FINE OATS. 
 
 Corner of West Street 
 and Windsor Avenue. 
 
 18!:)L^ 
 
 
 
 
 1908 
 
 r/'j 
 
 
 ,. 
 
 
 
 h J 
 
 < m 
 
 A 
 
 M 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 w. 
 
 J. 
 
 NORTON. l^KOP 
 
 
 L^EOl 
 
 ^LE 
 
 S NI A R I< 
 
 ET, 
 
 Tel. Call. 
 
 135 
 
 West Main Street, 
 
 Rock VII. i.E, 
 
 Conn. 
 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 R. S. Kirsche, 
 
 BOWLING 
 ALLEY. 
 
 66 TEMPLE STREET, 
 HARTFORD, CONN. 
 
 SHOES 
 
 H. E. LIEBE, 
 
 Dealer iu 
 
 Reliable Footwear. 
 
 Opposite Memorial Building, 
 Rockville, Conn. 
 
VERNON - ROCKXILLE CENTENNTAE CELEBRATION. 
 
 93 
 
 Roger Loomis 
 John Payne 
 Alexander Kinney 
 Phineas Chapman 
 James Thrall 
 Samuel Root 
 Elijah Skinner 
 Oliver King 
 Reuben King 
 John Driggs 
 Joshua Pearl 
 Thomas Chapman 
 Reuben Skinner 
 Solomon Perrin 
 Nathaniel Rogers 
 Benjamin Talcott, jr. 
 Caleb Parsons 
 Leonard Rogers 
 Epliraim Tucker 
 Jabez Cheesbrough 
 Elijah Hammond 
 Abraham Whcdon 
 Roger Darte 
 Eli Hammond 
 Samuel Talcott 
 Joseph Hyde 
 Cornelius Roberts 
 Phineas Talcott 
 Habb Wyles 
 \\'areham Grant 
 Jacob Talcott 
 Asher Isham 
 Thomas W. Kellogg 
 Ebenezer Hunt 
 Scottoway Hinkley 
 Alexander McLean 
 Lemuel Abbott 
 Erastus Kinney 
 John Waburton 
 Aaron Eaton 
 Jonah Sparks 
 Abel Driggs 
 John Bingham 
 Ezekiel Baker 
 Elijah Skinner, jr. 
 Augustus Grant 
 Jesse Miner 
 Ebenezer Kellogg, jr. 
 Oliver Hunt 
 
 Amos Jones 
 l*-benezer Bivins 
 David Smith, jr. 
 I-lbenezer Chapman 
 Roswell Smith 
 Irad Fuller 
 Stephen Fuller 
 Reuben Sage 
 Levi Darte 
 Daniel Root 
 John Walker 
 Lemuel King 
 Leavitt Millard 
 l^lnathan Grant 
 Justus Talcott 
 Ji.se])h Loomis 
 Thaddeus l-"itch 
 .Vlvan Talcott 
 I'.lijah i'ayne 
 Simeon Cooley 
 Daniel Daniels 
 Ezekiel Olcott, jr. 
 Normand Walker 
 Shubael Sparks 
 Russell Thrall 
 Samuel Lyman 
 Warren Kinney 
 Lebbeus P. Tinker 
 Delano Abbott 
 John N. Hall 
 F'rancis McLean 
 Elliott Palmer 
 Daniel Fuller 
 Joshua Pearl, jr. 
 Hosea Erownson 
 Curtis Crane 
 John Chapman 
 Lee L. Rogers 
 Chester King 
 Oliver H. King 
 I leman Hyde 
 John Cadey 
 Russell Cadey 
 Russell King 
 I losea Tucker 
 Jameson Cheesebrough 
 Ashael Cadey 
 Reuben Sage, jr. 
 
94 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 E. W. Harrington, 
 
 Dealer in Choice 
 
 BEEF, MUTTON, 
 VEAL, PORK, 
 
 Poultry, Eggs, 
 Vegetables, etc. 
 
 No. 28 MARKET STREET, 
 Phone. 
 
 Flour, Grain and Feed. 
 
 
 CARRIAGES 
 and WAGONS. 
 
 Poultry Supplies. 
 
 Edward White, 
 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 Telephone 9-12. 
 
 AGENT FUER 
 
 Schwedicshe 
 Essencen 
 
 auch Fornis Alpenkraeuter, Blut- 
 
 beleber, Heil Oel, Gruene 
 
 Tropfen fuer Diphteritis 
 
 Uterine. 
 
 Alle Sorten 
 
 GROCERIES, CIGARREN, 
 T ABACK, 'VFEIFEN USW. 
 
 Henry Schmalz, 
 
 153 UNION STREET, 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 Mrs. J. Paulsen, 
 
 34 Village Street, Rockville, Conn. 
 
 SPECIALTIES : 
 
 SHIRT WAISTS THAT FIT. 
 
 BUTTERICK PATTERNS. 
 
 Also a Full Line of 
 DRV GOODS AND NOTIONS. 
 
 T. F. O'Conneli, 
 
 Wholesale and Retail 
 
 LIQUOR DEALER. 
 
 Agent for Frank Jones Portsmouth 
 Ale and Pabst Milwaukee Lager. 
 
 44-46 MARKET STREET. 
 
VF,RNO\- ROrKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 05 
 
 Union Street looking west. First house 
 on right is Samuel Fitch's. The old 
 Hedge fronted the west part of Mr. 
 Maxwells grounds. The large Fitch 
 block is now on the house site. 
 
 l-^ast Mam Street — Ai 
 
 L^Mri 
 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 Hni^ 
 
 
 t*^«^i.tfi-*<« 
 
 1 
 
 ■ 
 
 ^^1 
 
 w3^^L. 
 
 {-' 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 HH9 
 
 
 1^^ J ; r^«Mw 
 
 i 
 
 ji 
 
 ^Mf^^UHl 
 
 |Wi p rgiiW 
 
 
 
 
 
 u y^^t 
 
 
 
 
 
 ui^-IB 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 
 
 f 
 
 W^ 
 
 
 HHbini 
 
 WM 
 
 Hr 
 
 >wt 
 
 Elm Street Looking North. Ulu V 
 
 An old view .jl Market Street slinwint; 
 Union Hall, first public hall opened 
 in Rockville. 
 
96 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 F. G. Schliphack, 
 
 HORSE AND OX 
 SHOBING. 
 
 Wagon Building and 
 General Jobbing. 
 
 113 EAST MAIN STREET, 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 C C. HAPI^IS, 
 
 * 
 
 Dealer in 
 
 Hardware aiul 
 Woode-RWdre. 
 
 Grass and Garden Seeds, Builders' 
 Hardware, loiners' and Machinists' 
 Tools, Manufacturers' Supplies, 
 Scissors, Shears, Pocket and Table 
 Cutlery, Brushes, Swings, Ham- 
 mocks, Etc. 
 
 ^^^^^^ 
 
 K'o. 20 EASr MAIN .STREET. 
 
 lVIC|)l»OIU' 50-2. 
 
 George Arnold 
 & Son, 
 
 CONTRACTORS 
 and BUILDE%S. 
 
 8 Ward Street, 
 
 Opposite 
 Envelope Works, 
 
 Rock\ lUe, Conn. 
 
 Estimates Furnished for 
 All Kinds of Buildings. 
 
 Jobbing Promptly (Attended to. 
 
 S. W. SADLACK, 
 
 Beer, Wii^e, Liciuors. 
 
 CHOICE CIGARS. 
 124 WEST MAIN STREET. 
 
VERNON - KOCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 97 
 
 CENSUS OF ROCK villi:, A I 
 
 TAKEN BY 
 
 )iiN \vi;Aur; 
 
 l\);). 
 
 No. -/ mtU ti^ FMml. 
 
 349 
 
 SloDf Mill Co., (Colion 
 Manufactory,] 
 
 Paper Mill, by Hill 4 Uu< 
 
 Cuiton Mill, liy Brady, 
 
 > Inhakltauls, 
 
 <A|9<ccgste Number, l»il 
 '; Do. Mule., . 827 
 
 ; Do. FmalSs, ■ 778 
 
 Males over ■«), . • H2 
 jFomale* over 40. 166 
 :Males owv 20 nn(\ 
 ■■ ■ un Jer 40, 424 
 
 Pemalea over 20 alid 
 i unjer 40. 
 .Males over 10 ai.d , ,1 
 
 • under 20, 241 lAmeriuu. Mill. [F I'n. 
 
 ';Fernalcaover 10 and: , '1 
 ; under 20. : 1«0 i ,^ 
 
 ^Children 10 and nn- A R«d<«'lle,^™" " "■'> 
 ,1..,- Mh »■«», 418- 
 
 A ■>" l-5«'lli,istMill. 
 
 247 j Uook Mill., [Fancy Cassiinere^ 
 "l Lced'- Mfrx. (^., |S«li„.H,l 
 l^loirence. {BIk. SalioelU.J 
 
 97 I Neiv England Co. (F.Omimere. 
 
 321 
 
 21 S.«on> Co. (SiUinett,) 
 
 53; 
 
 Splinf-villo Co. (Satinelt.1 
 an ! Jabl-/ Sean.. Grocer, am't solo. 
 
 ;DwKuuso HoufiHS, 
 
 ■Average No. to each. 
 cNoMBER oy Schools 
 
 OWs. 
 Total. 
 WcBl Scliool, 
 
 Boys, 
 fiirls, 
 Tnlal. 
 
 Bov!, 
 Girk, 
 Total 
 
 \y.<\'» & S|)eneer. Cabinet-wai 
 Manufactory, Capital Sleek. 
 
 Ij 20,1S0,000 
 no ■iOU 325.000 300.00(1 300.000 
 
 im'>3O.m>0S3O.000 
 
98 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 ALL NEW AND UP-TO-DATR DESIGNS. 
 LETTERING MONUMENTS A SPECIALTY. 
 
 H. T. ANDERSON, 
 
 IIIGII-ORADl-: 
 
 Marble and Granite Monuments. 
 
 Murlless Block, Main Street, 
 Telephone 9-2. ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 GRADUATE 
 
 WILLIAM J. FINLEY, 
 
 ROCKVILLE, 
 
 CONN. 
 
 Concert Titniug,— Clientele Work Solicited. 
 
 LUDWIG FRITZSCHE, 
 
 Manufacturer of and Dealer in 
 
 FINK CIGARS. 
 
 Large assortment of FRENCH BRIAR and 
 MEERSCHAUM PIPES, SMOKING and 
 CHEWING TOBACCO. 
 
 Fitch Block, 40 Union Street, 
 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 GEORGE B. MILNE, 
 Blacksmith, 
 
 Horse Shoeing and Jobbing. 
 Wagon Building and 
 Repairing of All Kinds. 
 
 229 West Main St., Rockville, Conn. 
 
 OSKAR H. BURKHAHDT, 
 
 Dealer in 
 
 Groceries and Provisions, 
 
 DRY AND FANCY GOODS. 
 
 Noiions a Specialty. 
 
 Cigars and Tobacco 
 
 3-t Spring- Street, Rockville, Conn. 
 
 W. H. Robinson, D. D. S. 
 
 DENTIST. 
 
 Exchange Building, 
 Rockville, Conn. 
 
 Hacks Furnished for 
 Weddings, Parties 
 and Funerals. 
 
 Open All Night. 
 Telephone Call, 9-4. 
 
 A. M. BURKE, 
 
 LIVERY, HACK, 
 FEED and BOARDING STABLE, 
 
 Rear of The Rockville House, 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 Liebe's Harness Shop 
 
 Opp. Memorial Building. 
 
 Everything in the Hne of HORSE FURN- 
 ISHING GOODS and STABLE 
 REQUISITES. 
 
 ROTO SALT AND FEEDERS. 
 
 Telephone 
 Connection. 
 
 Repairing Promptly Done. 
 
VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CEI.EP.RATION. 
 
 99 
 
 Official Program— Old Home Week 
 
 JUNE 28 to JULY 4, Inclusive. 
 
 SUNDAY, JUNE 28. 
 
 Morning. Special services in all llic 
 churches, sermons by former pastors 
 and singing of okl-time hymns. 
 Afternoon. Rendition of famous 
 oratorio, "The Creation," in Union 
 church. 
 
 Evening. C)ratorio will be given 
 second rendition, with solo parts by 
 distinguished New York Artists, 
 Orchestra, and Chorus of 125 voices. 
 Historical address at St. John's 
 church by Rev. Dr. Samuel Hart, 
 Dean of Berkeley Divinity School 
 and President of Connecticut His- 
 torical Society. Solemn High Ves- 
 pers at St. Bernard's Church, with 
 sermon by Rev. Edward Flannery 
 of ?Iazar(h-ille. 
 
 MONDAY, JUNE 29. 
 
 Afternoon. Opening exercises at 
 \'ernon Center (mother settlement 
 of the town), in historic Congrega- 
 tional church, built in 1826, with fol- 
 lowing program: 1, Music; 2, Invo- 
 cation; 3, Address of welcome by 
 Parley B. Leonard, Esq., first select- 
 man of the Town of Vernon ; 4, Read- 
 ing of Act of the General Assembly 
 creating the Town of Vernon, by 
 Francis B. Skinner, Esq., town clerk ; 
 5, Music; 6, Historical Essay by C. 
 Denison Talcott, Esq.; 7, Music; 8, 
 Reminiscences, by Capt. Charles W. 
 Burpee of Hartford; 9, Centennial 
 poem, by Prof. Thos. D. Goodell of 
 New Haven; 10, Music; 11, Com- 
 memorative address by Hon. Charles 
 
 Phelps, President of Vernon Centen- 
 nial Connnittee; 12, Benediction, 
 i'ollowing the exercises in the church 
 there will be a Band Concert and 
 social gathering on green in front 
 of the church. 
 
 Evening. Grand Colonial Ball in 
 Town Hall, under auspices of Sabra 
 Trumbull Chapter, D. A. R. 
 Grand Ball at Turn Hall. 
 Opening of Electrical Display and 
 Illuminations; Band Concert; Vaude- 
 ville, and Midway, on East Main 
 street. 
 
 TUESDAY. JUNE 30. 
 
 Afternoon. Automobile Hill-Climb 
 Contest, Vernon avenue, at 2 o'clock. 
 Athletic sports, including foot races, 
 sack races, climbing greased pole, 
 etc. 
 
 Ball game on Union-street grounds, 
 Rockville vs. Middletown, . cham- 
 pions of Middlesex County League. 
 Balloon Ascension ; Band Concert : 
 Vaudeville, and Midway. 
 
 Evening. Meeting of .Vlunmi of 
 Rockville High School, with grand 
 reunion. 
 
 Reception and banquet tendered by 
 Fayette Lodge, No. 69, A. F. & A. 
 M., to M. W., Edward E. Fuller, M. 
 W., Grand Master of Masons in 
 Connecticut. 
 Ball in Town Hall. 
 Electrical display and Illuminations; 
 Band Concert; Vaudeville, and Mid- 
 way. 
 
TOO 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 Special in Laces. 
 
 Two minutes walk from Trolley you will find 
 the largest assortment and the latest kinds and 
 cheapest iu the City. Laces of all kinds and In- 
 sertion to match, also Hamburg Edge, Insertion, 
 Trimmings, Ribbons, Lace Curtains. Handker- 
 chiefs, Richardson Embroidered Silk, Linen 
 Doilies, Balteuberg Patterns, Braid. Corsets 
 made to order. Corset Covers, Fancy Aprons, 
 all home-made. Come and convince yourself. 
 
 Miss Ida Weber. 
 
 Cor. W. Main St. and Vernon Ave. 
 
 Miss C. F. Seidel, 
 
 MILLINERY, 
 Fancy Goods and Stamped Goods. 
 
 ORCUTT BUILDING, 
 EAST MAIN STREET. 
 
 NELLIE V. FINLEY, 
 
 Teacher of Piano 
 and Harmony. 
 
 i6 Chestnut St., Rockville, Conn. 
 
 Dressmaking Parlor 
 
 At the SINGER STORE. 
 
 Ladies' vSuits, Shirt W.iists and 
 Children's Dresses at Reason- 
 able Rates. 
 Prompt Attention to all Orders. 
 
 Mrs. Anna Bigelow, 
 
 Geo. G. Schneider, 
 
 TAILOR. 
 
 Also Manufacturer of COVERED 
 
 BUTTONS in various styles and 
 
 Sizes To Order. 
 
 l^I.EASED TO SHO>V S.VMl'LKS. 
 
 No. 22 Union St., Fitch Block, 
 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 Thomas Sheridan, 
 
 Best Brands of Foreign and Domestic 
 
 Liquors, Wines, Ales, Lager 
 and CHOICE CIGARS. 
 
 Telephone 35-4. 
 Singer Store. 
 
 8/ Union Street, 
 
 Rockville, Conn. 
 
 SC) WEST STREET, 
 ROCKVILLE, - - CONN. 
 
 1887 1908 
 
 21 years supplying the 
 people of Tolland Couuty 
 with Footwear. 
 
 Our Motto, is. Square 
 Dealing, Reasonable 
 Prices, Courteous Treat- 
 ment. Our aim is to have 
 each customer feel that 
 we are more concerned in 
 making permanent trade 
 than in securing large 
 tcnqiorarv profits. 
 
 F. L. STRICKLAND, 
 
 18 Main St . Rockville. 
 AgenI for Walkover Shoes 
 
 ARE \o\i Looking for Honest Estimat- 
 ing? Then Give Me a Trial. 
 
 F. W. Stengel, 
 
 CONTRACTOR AND BUILDER. 
 
 I'lans Furnished. 
 Johhiiig rroni]itly Attended To. 
 
 9 LAWRENCE STREET. 
 
VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELERRATION. 
 
 101 
 
 Official Proeram-Old Home Week. 
 
 (CONTINUED) 
 
 WEDNESDAY, JULY 1. 
 
 Afternoon. Fifers' and Druniniers' 
 
 convention and contest. 
 
 Ball game on Union-street grounds, 
 
 Rockville vs. Bristol. 
 
 Balloon Ascension ; Band Concert ; 
 
 Vaudeville, and Midway. 
 
 Evening. Grand pyrotechnical dis- 
 play, furnished b}' Clarence D. Holt, 
 former Rockville resident. 
 Band Concert ; Midway, and \'aude- 
 ville : Electrical display and Illumina- 
 tions. 
 
 THURSDAY, JULY 2. 
 
 Morning. Baseball game on Union- 
 street grounds between Rockville 
 and Springfield State League team, 
 (game will be preceded by parade of 
 the players of the two teams in autos. 
 headed by band). 
 
 Afternoon. Baseball on l^iion-street 
 grounds, Rockville vs. Springfield 
 State League team. 
 Balloon Ascension ; Band Concert ; 
 Vaudeville, and Midway. 
 Evening. Rockville Baseball Asso- 
 ciation's reception to players, enter- 
 tainment, and ball, in Town Hall. 
 Social dance at Turn Hall. 
 Band Concert; Vaudeville, and Mid- 
 way; Electrical display and Illumina- 
 tions. 
 
 FRIDAY, JULY 3. 
 
 Afternoon, (irand military, civic and 
 industrial parade, ending with Cen- 
 tennial Drill under direction of 
 Moritz Kemnitzer. 
 
 Band Concert; Balloon Ascension; 
 Vaudeville, and Midwa}'. 
 German Entertainment at Turn Hall. 
 
 Evening. Grand military ball at 
 Town Hall. 
 
 German entertainment at Turn Hall. 
 Band Concert ; Vaudeville, and Mid- 
 way ; Electrical disj^lay and Illumina- 
 tions. 
 
 SATURDAY, JULY 4. 
 
 Morning. I'arade of Antiques and 
 
 Horribles. 
 
 Band Concert. 
 
 Afternoon. Firemen's muster. 
 Baseball, Rockville vs. Stafford. 
 Balloon Ascension ; Band Concert ; 
 Vaudeville, and Midway. 
 
 Evening. I'iremen's ball in Town 
 Hall. 
 
 Band Concert; i'.lectrical display and 
 Illuminations ; Private display of 
 fireworks ; Vaudeville, and Midway. 
 ■ Exhibit of historical relics and curios 
 each day. 
 Industrial exhibit each dav. 
 
102 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 1 niiothy Sullivan, 
 
 Beer, Liquor and 
 Choice Cigars. 
 
 ■ m 
 
 No. 10 GROVE STREET, 
 ROCKVILLE, . . CONN. 
 
 F. E. KOHNLY. W. C. THYLOB. 
 BARBKRS. 
 
 33 Village St. 0pp. Turn Hall. 
 
 Ewatd Serbser, 
 
 _^l^ Dealer in 
 
 First-Class Groceries 
 and Provisions. 
 
 Try Oar CAPITOL CITY FLOUR. 
 
 21 COTTAGE STREET. 
 
 VERNOH CENTENIUHL GELEBUHTIQN. 
 
 Fine Coach Harness, Coupe Harness, 
 
 Buggy, Express and Team Harness. 
 
 A complete line to select from at 
 
 low prices. 
 A Full Line of Lap Robes and Horse 
 
 Clothing. 
 Trunks, Bags, Dress Suit Cases, etc. 
 
 A full line at low prices. 
 
 A. L. Helm, 5 Market Street. 
 
 M. J. Kernan, 
 
 CHOICE MEATS 
 and PROVISIONS. 
 
 Randall & Randal, 
 
 6 HENRY BUILDING, 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 Brooklyn Street, 
 Rockville, - - Conn. 
 
 Real Estate and 
 IriSTirance. 
 
 Heyman & HoUaender, 
 
 DOMESTIC LEAF TOBACCO. 
 
 And Importers of 
 
 HAVANA and SUMATRA TOBACCO. 
 
 American Hotel, 
 
 M. J. HYNES, Proprietor. 
 
 Permanent and Transient Board. First- 
 Class Dining Room. Sample and Pool 
 Room in Connection. 
 
 203 PEARL STREET, 
 Near Maiden Lane, NEW YORK. 
 
 38 and 40 MARKET STREET, 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 103 
 
KU 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 R. Blankenburg, 
 
 ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
 
 MARKET GARDEN, 
 
 SPECIALTIES: 
 
 Early Potatoes, 
 
 Early Sweet Corn aud 
 Telephone Couuectiou. Strawberries. 
 
 =^100 Years 
 
 From now we may not have the privi- 
 lege of selling you Shoes. But we are 
 certainly in splendid shape to be your 
 Shoe man this year. 
 
 Ruckville City Shoe Store, 
 
 JAS. H. KEENEY. 
 
 Doane Building. 
 
 Carl C. Schmciske, 
 
 ^ MERCHANT 
 TAILOR. 
 
 ,21 PROSPECT STREET, 
 ROCKVILLE, . . . CONN. 
 
 Marble Pillar Cafe, 
 
 FRANK BECHER, Proprietor. 
 The Finest Brands of 
 
 AlesAVines, Liquors and Cigars. 
 
 Visit the Marble Pillar for a Dainty 
 Lunch or to enjoy a Social Game 
 of Pool or ShufHe Board. 
 
 22 Centr.m. Row, HARTFORD, CONN. 
 
 Thompson's ^ 
 Billiard Parlors. 
 
 5 TABLES. 
 44 Union Street, Rockville, Conn. 
 
 FREE EXHIBITION OF INDIAN 
 RELICS AND CURIOS. 
 
 Established 1867. 
 
 A. K. & P. Talcott, 
 
 16 East Main Street. 
 
 Dealers in 
 
 GENERAL MERCHANDISE. 
 
 A good place to buy Crockery aud Wall Paper. 
 Madrid, 112 Piece Dinner Sets, $14.00. 
 Verona, 112 Piece Dinner Sets, ".20. 
 
 H. FISCHER'S 
 
 Kxtra Beer on 
 
 Draught 
 
 J. EICHLER'S 
 
 New York Beer on 
 
 Draught. 
 
 HENRY JANSON, 
 
 BEER, WINE, LIQUORS,CIGARS. 
 
 lA'XClI ROOM. 
 
 Germania Hall Cafe. 
 
 Headquarters for Turners. 
 
 1050 Main Street, Hartford, Conn. 
 
 Telephone Connection. 
 
 1883 Ouarter Centennial 1908 
 
 2.J Years in 
 
 Photography 
 
 in Rockville. 
 — ifjl^ Ought to be able to 
 ■ please you. 
 Try me for your 
 next Photo. 
 
 :CHVKii,' 
 
 Fitch Block, 
 ROCKVILLE. 
 
 Kodaks and 
 Kodak. Supplies. 
 
VERXON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 10;') 
 
 FIRST TOWN MEETING 
 
 IN TOWN OF VERNON 
 
 It Was Held on the Third Monday in the 
 Momn of November, 1808. 
 
 The first town meeting' of the town of 
 Vernon was held on the third Monday in 
 November, 1808. Following is a copv of 
 the proceedings of the meeting, taken 
 from the records : 
 
 -•Xt a Town meeting legally warned and 
 held in Vernon on the third Monday of 
 November, A. D. 1808, Oliver King, Mod- 
 erator in said meeting- 
 Oliver King was chosen Town Clerk 
 for the year ensning — 
 
 Oliver King was chosen Town Treas- 
 urer for the year ensuing — 
 
 Cornelius Roberts, Oliver Hunt & 
 Lemuel King were chosen Select Men for 
 the year ensuing — 
 
 Constables — Francis McLean to col- 
 lect the state tax; Ebenezer Kellogg, jr. 
 
 Grand Jurors — Alex'n McLean & 
 Elijah Skinner, jr. — , 
 
 Lifters — Scottoway Hinkley & Ebe- 
 nezer Kellogg, jr. — 
 
 Tything — Tohn Chapman & Thomas 
 W. Kellogg— 
 
 Surveyors of Highway — Ebenezer 
 Chapman, Jameson Cheesebrough, Alvan 
 Talcott. — ■ 
 
 Hayvvards — Elijah Skiimcr, jr., Eli 
 Hammond — 
 
 Pound Keeper — Cornelius Roberts. — 
 
 Fence Viewers — Trad Fuller & Solo- 
 mon Perrin. — 
 
 Voted — A Tax of one Cent on a Dol- 
 lar on the last August list to defray Town 
 charges — 
 
 Voted — That swine have liberty to 
 run at large with a ring in their nose. 
 
 Voted — A Tax of two Cents on a Dol- 
 lar on the last August list for mending 
 Highways. — 
 
 Voted — That the Select Men divide 
 the districts and assess the labor on the 
 Highways. 
 
 Voted — Tliat a warning put on tiu- 
 sign Post in the Town at least six days 
 previous by the proper Authority be legal 
 warning for a Town Meeting. 
 
 \'oted — That the Selectmen meet with 
 and settle accounts with the Select Men 
 of the Town of Bolton. — 
 
 Voted — That this meeting be adjtmrn- 
 ed to be opened immediately after the 
 I'reemen's fleeting in April next. 
 
 Test : Oliver King, Town ("lerk. 
 
 PRESENT TOWN OFFICIALS. 
 
 Town Clerk and Treasurer — Francis B. 
 Skinner. 
 
 Selectmen — P. B. Leonard, Paul Brache 
 and John H. Zimmermann. 
 
 Tax Collector — August C. Magdefrau. 
 
 Assessors — John P. Cameron, Lester D. 
 Phelps, George R. Billings. 
 
 Board of Relief— Alfred O. Thrall, Joseph 
 Grist, William Merten. 
 
 Registrars of Voters — Francis A. Ran- 
 dall, George Forster. 
 
 School Visitors — S. Tracy Noble, Edwin 
 G. Butler, Morris H. Talcott. T. F. 
 O'Loughlin, Dr. A. R. Goodrich, Dr. 
 J. E. Hassett. 
 
 Town Auditors — Albert E. Waite, Joseph 
 E. Bolan. 
 
 High School Committee — Horace G. Tal 
 cott, Jennie B. Butler, William Max- 
 well, Lyman Twining Tingier, Geo. 
 P. Wendheiser. 
 
 CITY OFFICIALS. 
 
 Mayor — George Forster. 
 
 City Clerk — John N. Keeney. 
 
 City Treasurer - Frank Farrenkopf. 
 
 Sheriff— Michael Shea. 
 
 Tax Collector — James A. Carroll. 
 
 Auditors — William H. Yost and William 
 J. Jackson. 
 
 Aldermen — O.C.West, Carl C. Schmeiske, 
 David Horgan and Wm. Petig. 
 
 Councilmen — George W. Hill, Frank W. 
 Wendhiser, Allen J. Heck, John 
 Kress, John Flaherty, Theodore 
 Staudt. Conrad Sachse, James Breen. 
 
 Captain of Police — Edward J. Kane. 
 
 Chief of Fire Department — John W. Hef- 
 feron. 
 
 Superintendent of Streets — Frank R. Rau. 
 
106 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 George Diedering, 
 
 Contractor and Builder. 
 
 
 Jobbing Promptly Attended to. 
 
 J 8 Thompson St., 
 
 Rockville, Conn. 
 
 TTOVVARD WATCHES, 
 invIAMONDS 
 
 and most other good things in 
 the Jewelry Hne. 
 
 Whittlesey, 
 
 Henry Building, Park Place. 
 
 R. GRAF, 
 
 Corner Windermere Avenue 
 and Franklin Street. 
 
 Kerosene Oil and Gasoline 
 
 Delivered to any part of the City 
 on Short Notice at Lowest Prices. 
 
 Coiiipliineiits of 
 
 Oliver Morin, 
 
 IL^Jl E. Main St., Rockville, Conn. 
 
 Naragansett Brewing Co. 
 Lager and Ale on Draught. 
 
 Bottled Lager and Ale for Family Use. 
 
 IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF 
 
 Wall Taper, Oil Cloths, 
 Taints, Oils, Shades or 
 Ticture F raining. • 
 
 Tke mace to "^uy Them is at 
 N. WENDHISER' S, 
 
 No. 3 Market Ssreet. 
 
 ROCKVILLE, - CONN. 
 
 Metropolitan House, 
 
 C. E. SHEPARD, 
 
 Proprieror. 
 
 Is the Leading Place iu the 
 city for the Best Brands of 
 Foreign and Domestic 
 
 Liquors, Wines, Ales and Lager 
 
 and Choice Cigars 
 Market Street, Rockville. 
 
 Dr. J. Lincoln Burgess, 
 
 Veterinary 
 Surgeon. . . 
 
 Hartford Turnpike. 
 
 Telephone 69-2. 
 
 If Your Horse is Sick or Needs Attention 
 of Any Kind, Give Me a Call 
 
 Frank Hutchinson, 
 CONTRACTOR 
 and BUILDE%. 
 
 Jobbing Tromptlv ciAt tended To. 
 24 Talcott Ave. Rockville, Conn. 
 
 TKLEPHONE CONNECTION. 
 
VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 107 
 
 A whole chapter might well be gi\'eii 
 to Vernon's part in the various wars, but 
 lack of space forbids at this time. Suffice 
 it to say no chapter more largely con- 
 tributes to the town's enduring honor and 
 renown, or more strongly appeals to the 
 sentiment of local pride, than does the 
 story of its patriotic services in the Revo- 
 lution, in the War of 1812, in the Civil 
 War and in the war with Spain. The 
 splendid revelation of consecration, the 
 hazards and the sacrifices, the high dar- 
 ing, lofty courage, the trials and tribula- 
 tions of Vernon's native born sons, have 
 stirred the hearts of all people who honor 
 genuine patriotism and revere true valor, 
 crowning every struggle in which these 
 sons have been engaged with a halo of 
 celestial light and beauty, transmitting 
 their names and fame in ever brightening 
 lustre to generations yet unborn. 
 
 When discord came, which ott destroys 
 A nation with its blighting breath, 
 
 So hopeful with the springtime joys; 
 
 From Vernon went the soldier boys, 
 Unmindful of the chance of death. 
 
 Unmindful of the trying life, 
 
 The horrors of the battlefield, 
 They bravely followed drum and fife 
 
 When thunder-like the cannons pealed. 
 
 They fought to end an age-old wrong — 
 
 To liberate a fettered race; 
 So that the nation might grow strong— 
 That clearer would the soul-felt song 
 
 Of freedom ring through boundless space. 
 There was the tear — there was the sigh, 
 
 When coldly fate had cast her dice ; 
 But progress, O, thy altar high 
 
 Is worth the greatest sacrifice. 
 
 Brigham, George N. 
 Gates, Grafton 
 Lord, Sylvester 
 Long, Chas. 
 Taylor, Johnson 
 Burpee, Thomas F. 
 Emery, Ira 
 Vinton, Chelsea 
 Stoughton, Frank E. 
 Dart, Charles E. 
 Hirst, John 
 Hirst, Benjamin 
 
 Murray, Joseph 
 Waite, Otis H. 
 Worcester, Geo. E. 
 Bilson, John H. 
 Dainty, VVm. H. 
 Edwards, Charles C. 
 Fletcher, Charles 
 Fuller, Jerome B. 
 Goodell, Wm. W. 
 Hospodsky, Henry F. 
 Orcutt, Henry W. 
 Stoughton, Ervv'in 
 Symonds, John 
 Tracy, Carlos 
 Whiting, David W. 
 Allen, Edward P. 
 Thrall, Wells G. 
 Abby, John 
 Barrows, Samuel 
 Bowers, Abner S. 
 Buttervvorth, Thomas 
 Colburn, George W. 
 Crombie, David B. 
 Farrell, James 
 Gilmore, Robert 
 Gready, Jeremiah 
 Griswold, Lorin S. 
 Griswold, Russell 
 Gross, August 
 Hemmann, August 
 Hills, Orrin O. 
 Hirst, Joseph 
 Jackson, Patrick 
 Julian, John F. 
 Justin, Henry W. 
 Lee, Henry A. 
 Maine, Frank D. 
 Mann, Edward W. 
 McGuane, Martin 
 Mcintosh, David 
 McPherson, John 
 Metcalf, Martin V. B. 
 Morton, (Jeorge W. 
 Ogden, John A. 
 Pierce, George A. 
 Pinney, Lyman D. 
 Ramsdell, Wm. P. 
 Reed, Richard P. 
 Risley. Chas W. 
 Root, Wm. B. 
 Scott, William 
 Sloan, George F. 
 Smith, John W. 
 Spencer, James B. 
 Staft'ord, Joseph 
 
108 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 Charles Phelps, 
 
 Attorney at Law. 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 Thomas F. Noone, 
 
 Attorney at Law. 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 Lyman Twining Tingier, 
 
 Attorney at Law. 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 John E. Fisk, 
 
 Attorney at Law. 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 D. J. McCarthy, 
 
 Attorney at Law. 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 R. H. Leonard. 
 
VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELERRATION. 
 
 109 
 
 Stafford, Thomas 
 Stearns, Lyman K. 
 Tierney, Michael 
 Tiley, Henry 
 Town, Albert IL 
 Waldo, Christopher 
 Williams, John 
 Winans. Augustus ^\■ 
 Woldert, Adam 
 Barrows, Isaac W. 
 Dillon, Martin 
 Jones, Watson 
 Kramer, Seigfried 
 Ulrick, William 
 Miller, Peter 
 \\'illiams, Henry E. 
 Barrett, John 
 Colson, George 
 Gozzens, Max 
 Laurel, Charles 
 Fletcher, Charles 
 Baker, George L. 
 Bell, William 
 Johnson, John 
 Jackson, James G. 
 Moore, William 
 Suls, John 
 Toplis, Fleetwood 
 Burke, Owen 
 Garey, John 
 Shaugnessy, Michael 
 Balcom, Geo. W. 
 Wilson, Henry 
 Smith, John 
 Jost, Martin 
 Hansel, Conrad 
 ^^■attslong, John 
 Ferguson, Alartin 
 Patz, Ferdinand 
 Bushnell, Wm. A. 
 Bushnell, James M. 
 Foster, Philip H. 
 Hills, Alonzo 
 Hann, Horace 
 Loomis, Henry S. 
 Vail, Henry W. 
 Bernard, John 
 Burns, Charles 
 Wencger, John 
 Button, Geo. R. 
 Brooks, Adino E. 
 Skinner, Alden B. 
 Bruce, Wm. C. 
 Chappcll. Wm. W. 
 Craw, Iliram 
 
 r.ailey. Josei)!] 
 Ilailc}-, Le\-i 
 llrown, Avery 
 Silcox, John 
 \\ icks, George 
 Wright, Loren 
 Thomas, V\'illiai:! 
 I'Veeman, Henr}- 
 Dockhirty, Charks 
 Newport, William 
 Wooby, Peter 
 Woob}', \\'illiam 
 ISarber, Samuel .\. 
 l^Veeman, Julius 
 ( )lston, Thomas 
 Brown, John 
 Di.xon, Frederick 
 Holden, Benjamin 
 .Mann, Wm. R. 
 liyman, John E. 
 Cahoon, Frederick 
 Corey, Samuel J. 
 Edwards, Charles 1,. 
 Purnell, Jacob 
 A\"ilson, Lucius I ). 
 Truesdale, .\lfred .\. 
 West, Rufus 
 Clark, Jerome i!. 
 Truesdale. Harlan 
 Knox, Charles 1 1. 
 North, Samuel L. 
 I^i.s.sell, Geo. S. 1st 
 Connor, Wm. 1 1. 
 Ingram, (]eorge R. 
 I'oyd, Norman 
 I'errard, Charles L. 
 -Maxwell, (ieorge W. 
 Rich, Samuel C. 
 Wright, Edward H. 
 Dillingham, I lonry 1 
 Colbey, Henry I-:.' 
 I'clber. Henry 
 Winans, John R. 
 1 larding. James 
 Hook, \\m. 
 Silcox, Henry E. 
 Lawrens, John 
 Morrow, John 
 Evans, John R. 
 I'ovvers, \\'illiam 
 Wicks, Frederick 
 Burke, Edward 
 Moore, Dennis 
 Moore, Thomas 
 DeLaney, Patrick 
 
no 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 L. T. TINGIER, 
 Clerk Superior Court. 
 
 JOHN E. FISK, 
 Judge of Police Court. 
 
 A. MAGDEFRAU, 
 Collector of Taxes. 
 
 FRANK R. RAU. 
 
 Superintendent of Public Works since 
 1898. 
 
VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CEEERRATION. 
 
 HI 
 
 Quirke, John 
 Mackie, John 
 Worden, Peter 
 Baker, Geo. L. 
 Long, Charles 
 Kramer, Sigfried 
 O'Brien, Dominick 
 Phelan, James 
 Sweeney, James 
 Burns, Andrew 
 Flanagan, John 
 Jones, James 
 Kennedy, John 
 Robinson, John 
 Welch, Joseph 
 Kendall, Dwight T. 
 Weston, Chas. 
 Owen, Henry 
 Alden, Philander 
 Allen, Edward P. 
 Marvin, Edwin E. 
 Symonds, Edwin E. 
 Noad, Wm. J. 
 Rich, Geo. W. 
 Coffey, Wm. B. 
 Galvin, Patrick J. 
 Griswold, Willard 
 Rix, Albert S. 
 Skinner, Richard H. 
 Stangle, J. Conrad 
 McGuire, Patrick 
 Alden, John A. 
 Beckwith, Geo. B. 
 Denley, Richard 
 Gavin, Hugh B. 
 Higgins, James 
 James, Benjamin F. 
 Kernon, Francis E. 
 McCardle, Patrick 
 McCartney, John 
 McGee, Thomas 
 Medemach, Matthew J. 
 Moore, James 
 Noon, Patrick 
 Rich, Albert L. 
 Schmidt, Charles G. 
 Sloan, Wm. 
 Tracy, Simon K. 
 Preston, Henry B. 
 Davis, Royal L. 
 Carragan, Henry 
 McDonald, James 
 Jackson, Thomas 
 Minoyne, Patrick 
 Felber, Jacob 
 
 l-"ell)fr. John 
 Kedcl. August 
 Bursk. Oscar 
 Davis, William 
 liacon, Chaunc(.y A. 
 Bisscll, Robert 
 Rogers, Wm. P. 
 Boucher, Wm. 
 Firmin, Orange -S. 
 I-'orkey, Horatio \\ 
 (iainer, I'redcric H. 
 King, Albert TI. 
 Swan, Geo. F. 
 Scnnewald, Martin 
 Dielenschneider, James 
 Murphy, John 
 Gainer. Albert F. 
 Smith, John M. 
 Wilson, Da\id 
 .Vtkinson, Charles 
 Furgey, John 
 Jones, Wm. F. 
 Rice, Daniel 
 Swan, George E. 
 Thompson, Charles W. 
 Williams, Frank 
 Jost. Frederick, Jr. 
 Schrier, Louis 
 Roof, Frederick 
 Brown, James 
 Dyer, Frederick H. 
 Henderson, Thomas 
 Costello. ^^'illiam 
 Murray, John 
 Brady, Alichael 
 Hersey. Peter H. 
 Stone, Charles 
 Shipman, Wells 
 Lenz, Charles 
 Clark, Patrick 
 Edmunds, Daniel 
 Duttoii, George 
 Black, William 
 Burnham, John 
 Sorcnsen, Nelson N. 
 Frank. Jacob 
 Koehler, Julius 
 Lutz, Jacob 
 Renz. Christojiher 
 Storz, William 
 St. Peters, Charles 
 Lang. Thomas 
 Marcus. Peter 
 Taylor, A. L. 
 Fenton, Patrick A. 
 
OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK 
 
 JOHN KRESS, 
 Councilman Second Ward. 
 
 THEODORE STAUDT, 
 Councilman Third Ward. 
 
 JAMES BREEN, 
 Councilman Fourth Ward. 
 
 CONRAD SACHSE, 
 Councilman Fourth Ward. 
 
VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 113 
 
 Stebbins, Henry L. 
 George, Wm. H. H. 
 George, Andrew G. 
 George, Thomas A. 
 Gravestine, Abram 
 O'Grady, Patrick 
 Williams, John 
 Standish, William 
 Albrecht, William 
 Burdick, Randall 
 Bergen, William 
 Carr, Joseph 
 Lewis, Dr. J. B. 
 Lehman, Julins 
 Holt. Rollin 
 Martin, William 
 Young, Henry 
 Meehan. Terrence 
 
 Duggin, Mark 
 Henderson, James 
 Thompson, William 
 Fcnton, Patrick J. 
 Maude, Charles 
 Wilson, John 
 Corey, Philip 
 Farrell, Matthew 
 Borchers, William 
 Schultz, Charles 
 Snow, Charles 
 Esler, Frederick 
 Johnson, Julius 
 Clayton, John 
 Romain, Henry 
 Coye, Henry W. 
 Patten, Zadock 
 Reynolds, Alfred 
 
 THE HENRY BlILDIXG, i>I01>EI{> lU Sl.NKSS |{I,<M K. (OliNKK OF I'VliU l'l,A(L AM) 
 
 I'AUK STREET. 
 
114 
 
 OFFICTAI. PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 DR. ALFRED R. GOODRICH, 
 
 For 60 years associated with the profes- 
 sional, social and commercial inter- 
 ests of Vernon. Prominent in public 
 affairs. Three terms comptroller of 
 state of Connecticut ; State Treasurer 
 two terms. 
 
 E. F. BADMINGTON, 
 Member of Committee on Industrial Ex- 
 hibit, Vernon Centennial Celebration. 
 
 THE LATE AMASA P. DICKINSON, 
 Four Times Elected Sheriff of Tol- 
 land County; Died May 3, 1908. 
 
 WILLIAM J. AUSTIN 
 
 Bookkeeper and Teller for the past 25 years 
 
 at the Savings Bank of Rockville. 
 
A^KRNON-RnCKVIIJ.E CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 115 
 
 ixUSic-R OF COMPANY C WHEN MUSTERED INTO THE UNITED 
 
 STATES SERVICE AT CAMP HAVEN, NIANTIC, MAY 17, 
 
 1898, BY LIEUTENANT ROWAN, U. S. ARMY. 
 
 OFFICERS. 
 
 Captain — Martin Laubscher. 
 Lieutenants — 1st, John Paul Haun ; 2nd, Frederick W. ChajMiian. 
 First Sergeant — James li. Barnett. 
 Sergeants — Quartermaster, Francis Murray; Charles B. Milne, Arthur W. Gjngell, 
 
 *James W. Milne, Albert E. Usher. 
 Corporals — 1st, William F. Schillinger; 2nd, Webster Kaye ; 3rd, William M. 
 Hefferon; 4th, Arthur A. Gerich ; 5th, W^illiam J. Breen; 6th, Albert E. M. 
 Profe. 
 
 Musicians — William J. Fiiiley, \Valtcr F. McCray. 
 Artificer — Henry M. Seijit. 
 Wagoner — George B. McClellan. 
 Privates — George N. Aborn, Charles R. Anderson, Sylvester E. Arnold, Ernest E. 
 Austin, Albert C. Bartlett, James A. Beaumont, Charles E. Binch, Richard 
 Brache, Frank S. Breen, Hugo Broil, Harry J. Brown, Elmer W. Cahoon, 
 Frank D. Chadwick, Richard G. Champion, Perlin L. Charter, Wilbur F. 
 Charter, Jesse Clift, William J. Connolly, John Connors 2d, Jevvitt Cullumn, 
 Philip Diedering, Jr., John Donovan. I'rank P. ])o\vd, h^ancis F. Kinseidel, 
 James B. Farrell, Francis J'. F'itzijatrick, Joseph H. Flynn, Otto Flossbach, 
 David E. F'ox, Herman P. I'ranz, John K. Gavvtrey, Thomas l". Golden, George 
 F. Gorham, *Felix Gross, Manviile (Jrumhack. John F. Haun, John J. Ileckcr, 
 
 *Died of typhoid fever, contracted while in the service of Uncle Sam. 
 
116 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 A. N. BELDING, 
 Member of Committee on Industrial Ex- 
 hibit, Vernon Centennial Celebration. 
 
 
 THE LATE GEORGE SYKES. 
 
 A captain of industry who worked his 
 own way to the topmost round of the 
 ladder. Closely identified with the 
 growth of Rockville as a manufac- 
 turing center for nearly forty years. 
 Left $100,000 for Manual Training 
 School, which has increased $10,000 
 since his death. His widow has given 
 $50,000, and his daughter, Mrs. Elsie 
 Sykes Phelps, has presented trustees 
 with desirable building site in the 
 heart of the city. 
 
VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 117 
 
 George A. Hewitt, Andrew Ilopf, S(|uire Jackson, James S. Jones, Martin T. 
 Leamy, Robert II. Lehmann, Jason I). Lowell, Charles F. Liulwig, James H. 
 Lutton, Joseph H. Lutz, Thomas P. Lynch, William E. Lyons, Matthew 
 McNamara, Philip J. Mahr, Frank L. Alanion, Ferdinand A. Matthewson, 
 George Meyer, George PI. Miller, Thomas L. Millot, Thomas F. Moore, John 
 C. Murphy, John L. Mnrjihy, John \V. Murphy, William C. Murphy, Patrick 
 J. McCollough, Donahl K. .McLagen, Matthew N. Nahigian, Thomas V. 
 Newbury, Francis M. Norli>n, John J. ( )'Xcil, William Phillips, l-"rederick J. 
 A. H. Profe, James J. Quinn, Ruberi 11. kau, Charles H. Rausenback, John 
 Regan, Emil R. Schwerwitzky, Carl C. Schmeiske, Emil W. Schmeiske, Ernest 
 A. Sharp, Isaac Simnis, John H. Smith, Frederick W' . Stengel, Henry II. 
 Tracy, Herman C. ^^^agner, Charles J. Waidncr, .Xntliony \\'nmicgcr, Walter 
 1. Willis. Howard Winchcll. 
 
 OLD TAVERN AT DOBSONVILLE, 
 
 Where "Bije" Evans, Well Known Character in the Early Days of the Town, 
 Fiddled For the Breakdown. 
 
118 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 PETER DOBSON, 
 Pioneer of the Town of Vernon, Estab- 
 lished first cotton mill in Town of Ver- 
 non and one of the first in America. 
 Co-worker with Samuel Slater, father 
 of cotton manufacturing in this coun- 
 try. 
 
VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 110 
 
 GENERAL INFORMATION. 
 
 Historical Exhibit of Relics and Curios 
 in Library Hall, in the JMaxwell Memorial 
 Library, will be open daily during Centen- 
 nial week. Here are gathered, from tlie- 
 rare stores of old residents, many objects of 
 historical interest connected with the tradi- 
 tions and events of early times. 
 
 On arriving at Eockville, visitors are re- 
 quested to register their names, with home 
 and local address, at the Information Bureau, 
 which is located in the office of the Rock- 
 ville Gas & Electric Company, in the Pres- 
 cott block, on Park street. Compliance witli 
 this request will hasten (lie reunion of old 
 friends and will enable the commiltee to 
 keep a record of all former residents who 
 visit the town during the week. 
 
 The Information Bureau, office of Eock- 
 ville Gas & Electric Company, Prescott 
 block, Park street, is established for the con- 
 venience of visitors. Articles lost or found 
 should be reported here. A list of available 
 rooms and boarding places will be on file. 
 Persons having any rooms to rent or who 
 desire to take boarders should communicate 
 at once with William M. Lewis, Bureau of 
 Information, giving address and full jiai-- 
 ticulars. 
 
 An Industrial Exhilnt, showing the 
 pioducts of Vernon's manufacturing plants, 
 will be held daily in the Maxwell Memorial 
 Library, on Union street, main floor. It 
 will be well worth a visit. The commitlce 
 in charge of the exhibit consists of E. E. 
 Badmington, A. N. Belding, M. C. Mason, 
 William Maxwell, F. J. Regan, Lebbeus F. 
 Bissell, A. L. Martin, Frank Keeney. C. 1). 
 Talcott and Minor White. 
 
 The A'ictor Cai-nival Company of New 
 York City, the largest carnival company on 
 the road, will fui-nish the Midway attrac- 
 tions for Vernon's Centennial celebration 
 
 for (he eiitin- week. The compaiiv has a 
 gorgeous outfit and is beyond question the 
 finest thing of its kind ever seen in this sec- 
 tion of the country, and alongside of it all 
 other Midways pale into insignificance. The; 
 shows are clean and wholcsoiiu — each one of 
 them — and women and childii'u need have 
 no fear in attending. 
 
 Miss Mabel McKinley, a (aleiilcil mid nv- 
 coiuplished singer, niece of (be hmiciiled 
 {•resident. William McKinley, has Ixtii se- 
 cured Cor a special at( rm-lion for (be cnfiiv 
 week and will sing every aKen n and even- 
 ing several of her own composilimis. includ- 
 ing the famous Indian .song. ■■Anon;!."" She 
 will be heard in (]ir open :iir. pnibabh on 
 Central Park, and will \ir ;i(rnnip:inic(| bv a 
 full concert baud. 
 
 N. B.— The aihleiic eveiiis scheduled for 
 Wednesday in (he otiicial program, given 
 elsewhere, have been changed to Tuesday, 
 June ;30. 
 
 On Tuesday evening, .Mdcn Skinner 
 camp. Sons of WIerans. will give a grand 
 ball in Town Hall. 
 
 Visilors io Ivockville during (he week 
 who want to spend a few delightful hours 
 should visit Snipsic Lake and Crystal Lake. 
 Hoi'kville and Stafford trolley cars take you 
 direct to the Lakes. Both beautiful resorts. 
 
 Ijook through the souvenir book and noie 
 the ])laces of historic interest. IF you liavi' 
 any spare lime after seeing tlii> many and 
 diversified aitractions, it will pay von lo 
 visit some of these places. 
 
 A limited number of the odlcial [)rograins 
 for Old Hoine Week Vernon- K'ockville cen- 
 (eniiial celebradon will be placed on .sale at 
 Ifandall's Book Store after the regular edi- 
 tion has been distributed, for 525 cents. 
 Mailed to any aildress upon receipt of 35 
 cents. 
 
OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 THE LATE GEORGE MAXWELL, 
 
 A potent factor in the development of 
 Rockville. Possessed of executive gen- 
 ius and sound business qualities. Held 
 numerous positions of trust. A leading 
 spirit and tireless worker in all benevolent 
 schemes. Greatly beloved by all who 
 knew him. Father of the Maxwell 
 Brothers. 
 
LIBRfiRY OF CONGRESS 
 
 014 112 177 7 
 
 ■^msss^mi- and that is . 
 
 There is one line of Goods 
 manufactured in Rockville 
 with a National Reputation, 
 
 
 mi' 
 
 Martin's KINGFISHER Brand 
 Braided $m Fisii Lines. . . . 
 
 They are the Best Wearing, the Smoothest 
 Running, the most Durable and Highest 
 Grade SILK FISH LINES made. More 
 High Grade Silk Fish Lines are made in 
 Rockville than any other one place in the 
 World 
 
 E. J. MARTIN & SONS, 
 
 V' ^^-^ "^'^^ originators, designers and produc- 
 1 .„ ' ^rs of these celebrated Hnes, are natives 
 of Rockville and have made Rockville 
 the home of the most famous Silk Fish 
 Lines ever produced 
 
014 112 177 7 
 
 W-i 
 
 ^JU'^^'f^ 
 
 There is one line of Goods ^ ^ 
 manufactured in Rockville ; L\ 
 
 with a National Reputation, r ;^ /-^ - 
 
 and that is . . . 
 
 Martin's KINGFISHER Brand 
 Braided Silli Fish Lines. . . . 
 
 They are the Best Wearing, the Smoothest 
 Running, the most Durable and Highest 
 Grade SILK FISH LINES made. More 
 High Grade Silk Fish Lines are made in 
 Rockville than any other one place in the 
 World 
 
 •Vi^- 
 
 E. J. MARTIN & SONS, 
 
 The originators, designers and produc- 
 ers of these celebrated lines, are natives 
 of Rockville and have made Rockville 
 the home of the most famous Silk Fish 
 Lines ever produced 
 
 
 •'. ir nri'-g'JrFi .0X3 1- 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 Hill n 1 
 
 00141121777 O